Evaluation of serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, IgA) in potentially malignant disorders of oral cavity – A case control study

Abstract

BackgroundOnly few studies have been done to evaluate level of serum immunoglobulins (IgG,IgM,IgA) in patients with Potentially Malignant Disorders (PMD) like Leukoplakia, Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) and Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) as tumour markers. Aims and objectivesTo estimate the serum immunoglobulins level (IgG, IgM, IgA) in leukoplakia, OSMF and oral lichen planus (OLP) patients and its comparison with levels among control groups and Weather these values can be used to predict severity of disease or not. Materials and methods30 patients with different potentially malignant disorders like leukoplakia, OSMF and oral lichen planus and 30 healthy controls were selected at random and subjected for analysis of serum IgG, IgA, IgM. Statistical methods employed were mean, standard deviation and ANOVA test. ResultsWe observed significant elevated levels of all the immunoglobulins in leukoplakia, OSMF and oral lichen planus when compared with the control group and levels were increasing with clinical stages of OSMF (p < 0.05). ConclusionsAll these immunoglobulins are indicative of tumour burden or transformation of malignancy in higher stage and might be employed as prognostic indicators in these disorders.