Background: Periodontitis may occur in patients with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). It may be hypothesized that the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) cytokine profile in patients with periodontitis with poorly controlled T2D may differ from the GCF cytokine profile in medically healthy individuals with periodontitis. The aim was to review the cytokine profiles in the GCF of patients with periodontitis with and without T2D.
Methods: Databases were searched from 1988 to August 2011 using different combinations of various keywords. Titles and abstracts of articles that satisfied the eligibility criteria were screened by the authors and checked for agreement. Only articles published in English were included.
Results: Ten studies were included. Two studies reported GCF concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 to be higher in patients with periodontitis with T2D compared to medically healthy patients with periodontitis. Two studies showed GCF IL-6 levels to be higher in periodontitis with T2D compared to medically healthy subjects without periodontitis. In one study GCF levels of IL-17, IL-23, and interferon-γ were higher in patients with periodontitis with T2D compared to medically healthy patients with periodontitis. In one study, GCF concentrations of IL-8 were significantly higher in patients with periodontitis with T2D compared to medically healthy individuals with periodontitis. Three studies reported GCF levels of IL-1α to be significantly higher in patients with periodontitis with T2D compared to medically healthy individuals with periodontitis.
Conclusion: The GCF cytokine profile in patients with and without T2D seems to be governed by the intensity of periodontal inflammation and the role of T2D in this regard is rather secondary.