Oral submucous fibrosis: A quantitative assessment of serum malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and correlation with clinical staging

BACKGROUND: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a progressive disorder affecting the oral mucosa. OSMF predominantly seen in South-east Asian countries. There are some biochemicals parameters which are modify in oral submucous fibrosis; this alteration can be used as a tool for diseases progress and avert malignant transformation. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the serum malondialdehyde (malondialdehyde [MDA]), and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) in oral sub mucous fibrosis cases and compare clinical stages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty cases of clinical and histopathological established oral submucous fibrosis and thirty cases of nonsymptomatic features of oral submucous fibrosis preferred as controls. Venous blood was collected and separation of serum for estimation of MDA and SOD levels was done using an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed using SPSS software using Student's t-test and Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA test. RESULTS: Serum MDA levels were elevated when clinical staging increases, where as SOD levels were decreased when clinical stage increases when compared with control cases and it showed stastically significant. CONCLUSION: Estimation of serum MDA and SOD in patients with OSMF, we can assess the degree of oxidative damage of the disease. This can be used as an early diagnostic tool for preventing malignant transformation of oral submucous fibrosis.