Publication:

Level of serum lactate dehydrogenase in oral submucous fibrosis

Background Oral cancer is one of the most common form of malignancies in India. In many cases it develops at the site of premalignant lesion. Of all oral premalignant conditions, oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is of greater concern because of its disabling nature and relative greater chances of malignant transformation. Transformation of normal tissue to premalignant lesion and further to oral cancer results in alteration in glycolytic pathway and hence the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. The aim of this study was to estimate the LDH levels in serum of subjects with OSMF and to compare them with healthy controls and to correlate the relationship between pathogenesis of OSMF and the LDH enzyme.

Methods It is a case control study. The study included 40 diagnosed cases of OSMF and 40 matched healthy controls. Venous blood of 3 ml was collected in both cases and controls. Serum was separated by centrifugation and LDH was estimated by using standard kits. Statistical analysis was done using student ‘t’ test. Pearson's correlation was performed to establish the relationship between study variables.

Results It was observed that serum LDH levels were significantly increased in cases of OSMF as compared to controls (p <0.005).

Conclusions Serum LDH was significantly increased in OSMF and can be used as a valuable biochemical marker in prognosis of OSMF.