Evaluation of Hematological profile in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Cross-sectional Study

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to estimate hemoglobin (Hb) level, red cell indices (RCIs), serum iron level and Vitamin B12 level in patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and to analyze the association of these parameters in different stages of OSMF. SETTING AND DESIGN: This case–control study comprised of 65 individuals, with 40 OSMF patients and 25 controls. The OSMF patients were graded clinically according to the classification by Arakeri et al. Fasting blood samples were collected from both groups for hematological evaluation. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The mean values and standard deviations were calculated by Chi-square test. Normality of various parameters was evaluated by Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. The independent t-test was used to compare more than two means simultaneously. Correlation analysis was done by Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient method. RESULTS: The OSMF patients were in the age range of 21–67 years, with a mean age of 39.85 ± 10.42 years. The mean value of Hb of the control group was 14.24 ± 1.03 g/dL, whereas that of OSMF group was 11.18 ± 2.06 g/dL (P < 0.001). The mean value of the serum iron level of the control group was 119.67 ± 42.42 μg/dL, whereas that of the OSMF group was 45.04 ± 10.41 μg/dL (P < 0.001). The mean value of serum Vitamin B12 levels of the control group was 422.98 ± 112.57 μg/dL, whereas that of the OSMF group was 211.78 ± 45.17 μg/dL (P < 0.001). The RCIs including packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular Hb (MCH) and MCH concentration were significantly reduced in OSMF cases. Iron deficiency was present in 38 patients among the study group and Vitamin B12 deficiency was present in 22 patients of the study group. CONCLUSION: OSMF causes depletion of minerals and trace elements, and its replenishment is required for the healing of tissues and performing daily routine activities.