Salivary Biomarker Interleukin-8 Levels in Naswar Users and Non-users

Salivary biomarkers can be used as diagnostic and predictive aids in early detection of oral cancer or potentially malignant disorders. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted over a period of one year from August 2016 to August 2017 in a multicentre setting in Islamabad. A total of 60 patients were recruited and divided into two equal groups of naswar users and non-users. Un-stimulated saliva samples were collected and analysed by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Data was entered in SPSS version 22.0. The results were then analysed by using independent t-test. Statistically significant difference was found regarding the levels of salivary IL-8 between the naswar users and non-users (p <0.001). The levels of salivary IL-8 in non-users were 33.39 ±22.44 pg/ml, while the increased levels of salivary IL-8 in naswar users were found to be 173.48 ±46.52 pg/ml.