Evaluation of serum interleukin-10 levels as a predictor of glycemic alteration in chronic periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: Chronic periodontal disease (CPD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) share common pathogenic pathways. This study aimed to estimate levels of serum interleukin (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine also associated with T2DM and evaluate its association with hyperglycemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This investigation involved sixty participants divided into four groups comprising 15 participants each: Group 1 (healthy controls), Group 2 (CPD patients), Group 3 (T2DM patients with CPD) and Group 4 (T2DM patients). Plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depths (PPD), clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, random blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and serum IL-10 was measured.

RESULTS: Interleukin-10 was detected in all four groups. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed in most of the variables in all groups. IL-10 correlated significantly with PPD in Group 1 and with HbA1c in Group 4. IL-10 regressed with PPD in Group 1 and with HbA1c in Group 4. IL-10 levels were lower in Group 3 when compared with Group 4 and was lowest in Group 2.

CONCLUSION: Low IL-10 levels associated with high HbA1c. Pathogenic mechanisms of CPD seem to regulate IL-10. Serum IL-10 levels may be one of the predictors of glycemia.