Assessment of Serum Protein levels in Oral Submucous Fibrosis Patients

Background and Aim: Serum total protein, albumin and uric acid are plasma’s potent antioxidant defense; it can be used as a dependable marker of oxidative stress in the body and can untimely recognize oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), beside the other intrusive and not so successful demonstrative aides. Hence the present study was aimed to compare the serum levels of total protein, albumin and uric acid in oral submucous fibrosis patients.

Material & Methods: Patients were allotted into three categories: Group I comprised 25 healthy individuals, Group II comprised of 25 individuals with chewing tobacco habit without OSMF, and Group III comprised of 25 patients with chewing tobacco habit with OSMF. The inclusive patients were asked to fast overnight. The very next day between 8-10a.m, 5 ml of blood was drawn from each subject intravenously, using a sterile disposable syringe. Assay of albumin & total protein were carried out using the bromocresol green method and that for uric acid was carried out by biuret method.

Results: The mean serum levels of Total protein fell from group I to group III; variation was not found to be statistically considerable. Serum levels of Albumin fell from group I to group III; dissimilarity was found to be statistically considerable (p < 0.05). Serum levels of Uric acid decreased from group I to group II; difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Our study proposes that the degree of oxidative damage in OSMF can be evaluated by estimating the levels of serum Total Protein, Albumin & Uric Acid in pretentious patients. The basic deficiency of antioxidants can be remedied by adding a diet of these antioxidants. This can help in successful management of OSMF and avoid the negative consequences.