Estimation of Humoral Immunological Parameters among Chronic Periodontitis Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Periodontitis is a bacterial infection of tooth-supporting tissues. The host reacts to this bacterial challenge by activating its defense mechanisms; the immune responses can be mediated either by humoral factors or by lymphocytes. Recently studies found that periodontitis might be related to several systemic diseases especially diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: The current study was established to evaluate the alteration in humoral immune response in chronic periodontitis with type 2 diabetes mellitus as compared controls.

Subjects and Methods: A total of 30 patients and 20 controls were included in the study. Blood samples were collected from each subject to determine serum concentrations of (IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and C4) by single radial immune diffusion method. In this study, clinical examination included plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing.

Results: serum concentrations of IgG and IgA are significantly higher (p< 0.05)  in patients than healthy control, and serum concentration of C3 is significantly less than corresponding value of control (p< 0.05), while there are no significant (p> 0.05) differences in serum concentrations of each IgM and C4 between the patients and controls. Furthermore there are no significant (p> 0.05) correlation between serum immunological parameters and periodontal parameters.

Conclusion: These findings corroborate the thought that the humoral immune response plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis with type 2 DM. In addition, elevated antibody levels may explain why diabetes aggravates periodontitis.

Keywords: periodontitis, diabetes mellitus, immunoglobulin, complement componenet