UCSF

Initially introduced in 2000 by Choukroun et al., platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) emerged as an autologous blood concentrate prepared through centrifugation, finding utility in both dentistry and medicine.3 PRF is widely used in dental procedures such as soft tissue grafting, ridge preservation, bone grafting, and sinus lift procedures, exhibiting notable advantages in wound healing, clinical outcomes, and handling.3-7 Studies have revealed that L-PRF releases higher concentrations of growth factors like PDGF-BB, TGFβ-1, and VEGF. Notably, there is a lack of research on the impact of type 1 or type 2 diabetes on growth factor content in L-PRF, despite diabetes being one of the three risk factors for periodontal disease, adversely affecting wound healing, immune cell function, and regenerative outcomes in periodontal surgeries.25;30;33This case-control pilot study is aimed at comparing the growth factor concentrations in L-PRF samples obtained from healthy non-diabetic individuals and diabetic individuals. Three 10ml vacuum glass tubes of autologous venous blood were collected per patient, comprising five healthy non-diabetic patients and five diabetic patients. Observed findings from the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) demonstrated no statistical difference in the growth factor concentrations for PDGF-BB and VEGF when comparing diabetes and healthy subjects. These results suggest that there may be no additional benefit in the adjunctive usage of L-PRF in periodontal surgery patients with diabetes.