THIOL/DISULPHIDE HOMEOSTASIS AND VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR LEVELS IN SALIVA OF TYPE 1 DIABETIC CHILDREN WITH GINGIVITIS

Objective: To evaluate the thiol/disulphide homeostasis and level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in saliva of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and gingivitis. Methodology: Forty children with type 1 diabetes mellitus [DM] and 40 systemically healthy [H]) children were recruited for the study. Based on children' periodontal and systemic health status, they were divided into four subgroups: 1) systemically and periodontally healthy children (Hh), 2) systemically healthy children with gingivitis (Hg), 3) diabetic children with periodontal health (DM+h), and 4) diabetic children with gingivitis (DM+g). Periodontal clinical parameters were recorded. A new automated technique was used to measure the thiol/disulphide homeostasis parameters, and ELISA was used to measure the amounts of VEGF in saliva. Results: Children with or without diabetes had comparable clinical periodontal parameters and salivary VEGF levels (p>0.05). GI, PI, PD, and disulphide levels were significantly higher in the gingivitis subgroups than in the periodontally healthy subgroups (p<0.001). The gingivitis subgroups had significantly higher amounts of VEGF compared to the periodontally healthy subgroups (p<0.001). Conclusions: Thiol/disulphide homeostasis shifts towards disulphide direction in diabetic children with gingivitis. Thiol/disulphide homeostasis and salivary VEGF levels may be diagnostic markers of gingival inflammation.