Crevicular fluid elastase levels in relation to periodontitis and metabolic control of diabetes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between gingi val crevicular fluid (GCF) elastase levels, clinical measures of periodonta l status, and metabolic control of diabetes in insulin dependent (type l)di abetes (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes (NIDDM) patients. Sixty patients were recruited from the Diabetes Center at the: University of California in San Francisco. Thirty subjects were type 1 diabetics and 3 0 subjects were type 2 diabetics. Metabolic control was evaluated by glycos ylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) levels. Demographic information was obtained usin g a structured interview with the subjects. Clinical measurements and GCF s amples were taken from the mesio-buccal surfaces of 2 premolars and 2 molar s from the most diseased sextant. GCF elastase was determined by measuremen t of p-Nitroanalide resulting from hydrolysis of elastase specific peptide. Crevicular fluid elastase levels were significantly correlated with gingiv al index, bleeding index, probing depth and attachment level in both type a nd type 2 diabetes groups (0.01 < p < 0.001). HbAlc levels were not correla ted with clinical measurements and GCF elastase. The results suggest that G CF elastase, age and smoking are risk indicators for periodontitis in patie nts with diabetes mellitus, and periodontal status is not associated with t he duration and metabolic control of diabetes.