A study on mast cell number and lipid profile in oral submucous fibrosis

Prevention of oral precancer is most desirable and should take precedence over its diagnosis and therapy. As both, mast cell counts in connective tissue and serum lipids are altered in Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF), so study of both the factors is vitally important in OSF.

A total of 50 persons were included in the study of which 40 were OSF patients and 10 controls. Tissue sections and blood samples were collected for mast cell count and lipid profile estimation for both OSF patients and controls.

Mean mast cells in all grades of OSF were higher as compared to apparently normal appearing oral mucosa but as severity of OSF increases (from Grade II to Grade IV), count of Mast cell decreases. Further, the mean mast cells in OSF Grade II, III and IV groups were found 95.5%, 93.8% and 92.2% higher respectively as compared to normal (highly significant for all the groups p<0.001). The mean serum lipid profile of OSF groups was comparatively lower than age and sex matched healthy controls but was highly significant for all the groups (p<0.001).

Thus, it can be said that in the present study serum lipid profile decreases in OSF patients and mast cell count is increased when compared with apparently normal appearing mucosa but with the advancement of the grades mast cell number decreases in tissue sections of OSF. It can be suggested that biochemical and histological assessment of OSF patients may help in earlier diagnosis and/or prognosis of this disease.