Estimation of serum immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A levels in oral submucous fibrosis patients

BACKGROUND: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a disabling, chronic, insidious potentially malignant condition of the oral cavity seen predominantly in the Indian subcontinent. Due to the idiopathic nature and various immunological changes seen in some OSMF patients, it can be considered an autoimmune disorder. Hyperimmunoglobulinemia is often seen with OSMF. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: (i) To estimate the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in OSMF patients; (ii) to correlate the serum IgG and IgA levels with age and gender of OSMF patients; (iii) to correlate the serum IgG and IgA levels with clinical stages of OSMF; (iv) to correlate the serum IgG and IgA levels with the content of the habit in OSMF patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples were collected from a total of 50 patients (25 OSMF cases and 25 controls) of both genders and IgG and IgA levels were estimated by NEPHELOMETRY. RESULTS: As compared to the control group, the mean serum IgG level was marginally increased among the OSMF patients and the mean serum IgA level was marginally decreased among the OSMF patients, but this was not statistically significant. Furthermore, there was only a weak correlation between serum immunoglobulins and content of the habit and no significant correlation was found between the serum IgG and IgA levels and age and sex of the OSMF patients. Serum IgG was increased and IgA was decreased with increasing stages of OSMF. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggested that there is an alteration in serum immunoglobulin levels in OSMF patients as compared to the control group.