Evaluation of serum lipid profile and complete hemogram in patients with oral submucous fibrosis: A case control study

Abstract

Aim: Not many studies in the literature are found that include all the variables under complete blood picture along with lipid profile. The aim of study was to evaluate the serum lipid profile and complete blood picture in patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). Materials and Methods: It is a case control study with the sample size of 40 patients considered by random sampling, which includes 20 clinically diagnosed patients with OSMF as per the diagnostic criteria of Passi et al. and 20 sex-matched controls. Five milliliters of blood was collected from the most prominent vein of right cubital fossa and stored in test tubes. Centrifugation was carried out for about 4–5min at 2500rpm and the serum collected was stored at 4°C and subjected to auto analyzer for analyzing complete lipid profile and complete blood picture. Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare mean age, mean values of lipid profile parameters, and hematological parameters between OSMF and healthy group. Results: The serum lipid levels were significantly lower in patients with OSMF than in controls, and also patients with OSMF showed significantly lower levels of hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBCs), and platelets and increased levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and white blood cell (WBC) than in controls. Conclusion: This study concluded that the lower serum lipid levels may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator in the early diagnosis of oral premalignant lesions, and the findings in our study emphasize on the assessment of Hb, RBCs, WBCs, platelets, and ESR for patients with OSMF. So it is recommended to subject the patients with oral precancerous conditions to biochemical investigations as it may aid in early diagnosis and prognosis.