Subgingival pathogens in chronic periodontitis patients affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective case-control study.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence and bacterial load of 6 main periodontal pathogens between pairs of periodontal patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. and genotypes were also investigated.

METHODS

Twenty patients affected by chronic periodontitis and type 2 diabetes were retrospectively selected and matched to 20 patients without diabetes on the basis of the degree and severity of periodontal disease. Microbiological data of subgingival biofilms were analysed and compared for the examined pathogens: , , , , , and .

RESULTS

The pairs were balanced in terms of demographic and clinical parameters, except for bleeding on probing and suppuration. In the microbiological test sites (4 for each patient), the mean probing pocket depth was 6.34±1.63 mm in patients with diabetes and 6.41±1.78 mm in patients without diabetes. No significant difference between pairs in the prevalence of or the distribution of its genotypes was recorded. Patients with diabetes had a significantly greater amount of total bacterial load, , , , and (<0.05). Moreover, patients with diabetes had a higher number of sites with a greater cell count than patients without diabetes. When compared to the total bacterial load, only maintained its relative load in patients with diabetes (=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective matched study supports the hypothesis that microbiological differences exist among periodontal patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03786133.