Detection of TTV and EBV in Type II Diabetic Patients with Chronic Periodontitis Patients - A Pilot Study

Background: Periodontitis and diabetes share common relationship in that both are chronic inflammatory conditions. Periodontitis is multifactorial in which the bacterial-host response is the most accepted etiology. With the discovery of association of various viruses such as EBV, CMV and TTV viral implications have been hypothesized. Periodontitis is an established risk factor for diabetes and progression of periodontitis more in diabetic patients than in healthy individuals. The exact mechanism of periodontitis is still being researched. This study examined the occurrence of EBV, TTV and their coexistence in chronic periodontitis patients with and without Type II diabetes. Methods: 30 patients were selected and divided into 2 groups of 15 each consisting of control (chronic periodontitis) and test (chronic periodontitis with type II diabetes). Conventional PCR was used to detect the presence of EBV, TTV from the gingival biopsies. The clinical parameters were measured using modified CPI index and the results were subjected to various statistical analysis. Results: EBV was detected in 13.3 % of chronic periodontitis patients and 20 % of diabetic patients. (p = 0.62) TTV was seen only in diabetic patients and was highly significant with p = 0.00. Coexistence of EBV and TTV was found in 20 % of diabetic patients (p = 0.33). Conclusion: TTV was found in the gingival biopsies and was significantly associated in chronic periodontitis patients with type II diabetes. No significant coexistence of TTV and EBV could be established.