Serum lipid profile as a prognostic marker in oral submucous fibrosis

Introduction: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is the most prevalent precancerous condition in India, with high prevalence rates found in North Gujarat. In spite of the high prevalence and its potential to undergo malignant transformation, this condition has not been widely investigated with respect to the serum lipid levels. The changes in lipid profile have long been associated with cancer as lipids play a key role in the maintenance of cell integrity. Aim: To investigate the alterations and clinical significance of serum lipid profiles in OSMF patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 subjects were included in the study and divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 40 clinically diagnosed OSMF subjects and group II consisted of 10 healthy subjects. After taking a thorough history, clinical examination, and informed consent, all the patients were sent for lipid profile estimation, which consisted of (i) serum total cholesterol (TC), (ii) low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, (iii) high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, (iv) very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and (v) serum triglycerides (TG). Results: The serum lipid levels were significantly lower in patients with OSMF than in the controls, which was most evident in stage IV OSMF. From the present results, it is evident that the level of serum lipids decreases with the progression of the disease. Conclusion: This study suggests that decrease in lipid levels may be considered as a useful marker in the early diagnosis of oral premalignant conditions like OSMF