Aim: To compare gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) biomarker levels and microbial distribution in plaque biofilm (SP) samples for subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) versus healthy subjects without diabetes during experimental gingivitis (EG).
Materials and Methods: A total of nine T1DM patients and nine healthy controls of age and gender similar to the T1DM patients were monitored for 35 days during EG. Hygiene practices were stopped for 3 weeks, and GCF, SP, plaque index (PI) and gingival index were determined. IL‐1β, IL‐8, MMP‐8 and MMP‐9 were quantified by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and SP samples were assessed by DNA–DNA hybridization for a panel of 40 subgingival microbial species.
Results: IL‐1β levels in T1DM patients were elevated compared with healthy individuals, and showed differences between groups at 7–21 days while healthy patients showed IL‐1β increases from baseline to 14–21 days (p<0.05). Differences were observed in MMP‐9 levels between patients with and without T1DM at 7–14 days (p<0.05). Orange complex species and PI measurements displayed a superior correlation with biomarker levels when compared with other complexes or clinical measurements during EG.
Conclusions: The mean GCF biomarker levels for IL‐1β and MMP‐8 were most significantly elevated in T1DM subjects compared with healthy individuals during EG, not resulting from differences in the mean PI or microbial composition.