Alteration in plasma lipid profile in oral submucous fibrosis patients: A case control study

Omega 3: a novel treatment agent in oral submucous fibrosis: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic debilitating disease and a premalignant condition of the oral cavity. It is well known for its impervious nature to medical therapy. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, its role in OSF is still not known. This preliminary study assessed the efficacy of systemic omega 3 in this disease.

METHODS

A randomized single-blinded controlled trial was designed, and a total of 10 clinically confirmed adult patients with OSF were included in the study. Group A was given biweekly intralesional injections of dexamethasone 1.5 ml and hyaluronidase 1500 IU mixed with lignocaine for 6 weeks and a placebo for 3 months. Group B was also given similar intralesional injections but with 1 gm of omega 3 three times daily continuously for 3 months. Patients were followed every month for 3 months and then after 6 months.

RESULTS

Significant improvement was noted among all clinical parameters (interincisal distance, tongue protrusion, cheek flexibility, and visual analogue scale) in both the groups. Intergroup comparison showed significant reduction in burning sensation in group B; that is, P value was 0.005, while improvement in rest of the three clinical features was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Omega 3 can be used as an adjunctive treatment option in patients with OSF to reduce subjective symptoms. More studies should be conducted with a larger sample size to study the effect of omega 3 in patients with OSF.

Serum lipid profile in oral submucous fibrosis: A clinico pathological study

Background:

Lipids play a key role in the maintenance of cell integrity. These are major cell membrane components essential for various biological functions, including cell growth and division of normal and malignant tissues. Abnormal changes have long been associated with alterations in lipid profile.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations in lipid profile in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) patients and to compare the levels with respect to the clinical staging and histological grading.

Materials and Methods:

Fifty patients of OSMF, diagnosed clinically and histopathologically, were included as the study subjects. A group of 50 age and sex matched normal subjects without any oral pernicious habits were taken as controls. The serum lipid profile consisting of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high density lipoprotein (HDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were analyzed using Erba Chem-5 Plus Analyzer.

Results:

Serum TC, HDL and LDL levels were significantly decreased in OSMF patients as compared to controls. As the clinical stage progresses, the TC and HDL levels were gradually reduced. All the lipid profile parameters such as TC, TG, HDL, VLDL and LDL progressively reduced as the histological grade advanced.

Conclusion:

The results of the present study showed that there is an inverse relationship between lipid profile and the presence of OSMF. The decreased serum lipid profile may be considered as a useful indicator for initial changes occurring in the cells of potentially malignant disorders like OSMF.

Precancerous lesions of oral mucosa

Precancerous lesions of oral mucosa, known as potentially malignant disorders in recent years, are consists of a group of diseases, which should be diagnosed in the early stage. Oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral erythroplakia are the most common oral mucosal diseases that have a very high malignant transformation rate. Oral lichen planus is one of the potentially malignant disorders that may be seen in six different subtypes including papular, reticular, plaque-like, atrophic, erosive, and bullous type, clinically. Atrophic and erosive subtypes have the greater increased malignant transformation risk compared to another subtypes. Although there are various etiological studies, the etiology of almost all these diseases is not fully understood. Geographically, etiologic factors may vary. The most frequently reported possible factors are tobacco use, alcohol drinking, chewing of betel quid containing areca nut, and solar rays. Early diagnosis is very important and can be lifesaving, because in late stages, they may be progressed to severe dysplasia and even carcinoma in situ and/or squamous cell carcinoma. For most diseases, treatment results are not satisfactory in spite of miscellaneous therapies. While at the forefront of surgical intervention, topical and systemic treatment alternatives such as corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and retinoids are widely used.