PERIODONTAL STATUS AND SUBGINGIVAL MICROBIOTA OF INSULIN-DEPENDENT JUVENILE DIABETICS - A 3-YEAR LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

THIS STUDY EXAMINED FOR 3 YEARS the changes in periodontal status and the possible correlations with selected subgingival microbiota and dia betic conditions in a group of 16 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM, JD) patients as compared with their 16 healthy cohabiting sibli ngs (HS). JD patients were monitored every 3 months for levels of glyc osylated hemoglobin (HbA(1C)). Clinical and microbiological parameters were measured 6 weeks before drawing blood to determine levels of HbA (1C). Periodontal parameters were measured at baseline (T0), year 2 (T 2), year 3 (T3) and included: probing depth (PD), attachment level (AL ), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), and plaque index (PI). Two sites in ea ch patient were selected for microbial samples: a mesio-facial aspect of the maxillary right first molar (defined as constant site, CS) and a site with the greatest probing depth (defined as deepest site, DS). Microbial samples were analyzed by culture techniques. No significant differences in clinical parameters were found between diabetics and he althy siblings at any examination. The SBI in the non-diabetic group a t T2 and at T3 was significantly lower than at baseline. PD and AL of constant sites in the diabetic group at T3 were significantly higher t han baseline. There was a significant increase in Prevotella intermedi a at T3 as compared with baseline for deepest sites in the diabetic gr oup. Cluster analysis revealed, in a former study, two clusters (IV an d V) at baseline which were significantly different from the overall m ean regarding composition of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Capnocytopha ga spp. They were not significantly different for periodontal paramete rs from TO to T3. These data would suggest no significant differences in clinical parameters between the diabetics and non-diabetic siblings throughout this 3-year longitudinal study.