Comparative Analysis of Serum and Salivary Uric Acid, Albumin and Lactate Dehydrogenase Levels in Smokeless Tobacco Consumers of Sriganganagar Population-A Case Control Study

Abstract

Introduction: Oral cancer (OC) is now considered one of the India’s major public health challenges by the World Health Organization (WHO). Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the world’s sixth most common malignancy. Saliva contains a number of biomarkers for the detection of oral diseases. These biomarkers are albumin, lactate dehydrogenase etc.

Aims and Objectives: To assess and compare the levels of serum and salivary uric acid, albumin and lactate dehydrogenase levels in smokeless tobacco consumers.

Materials and Methods: 25 healthy subjects without any deleterious habits of tobacco or betelnut consumption and without lesion on intraoral examination (Group 1), 25 patients with habit of smokeless tobacco consumption, but without any associated intraoral lesion/(s) clinically (Group 2), 25 patients with habit of smokeless tobacco consumption, and with associated intraoral lesion/(s) seen clinically (Group 3) were included in the study. Levels of serum and salivary uric acid, albumin and lactate dehydrogenase were evaluated using a semiautomatic autoanalyzer. The data obtained was analyzed using the SPSS version 22 software.

Results: LDH level in serum increases progressively from group 1 to group 2 and group 3. Salivary LDH value is also increases from group1 to group 2 and 3. Uric Acid level in serum decreases progressively from group 1 to group 2 and group 3. Salivary Uric Acid value is also decreases from group1 to group 2 and 3. Albumin level in serum decreases progressively from group 1 to group 2 and group 3.  Salivary albumin value is increases from group1 to group 2 and 3.

Conclusion: Estimation of serum and salivary LDH and uric acid is only an auxiliary investigation which may act as an adjunct in diagnosis of OSCC and premalignant lesion and can only provide collaborative evidence.