Expression of tumor necrosis factor α and its correlation with severity of oral submucous fibrosis: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this case-control study was to evaluate the plasma tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels in patients with oral submucous fibrosis and to determine the relation of plasma TNF-α levels with the severity of oral submucous fibrosis.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 25 patients who were diagnosed with oral submucous fibrosis and from 25 age- and sex-matched control participants. The plasma was isolated by centrifugation of blood samples. The levels of plasma TNF-α were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
A total of 19 out of 25 patients had detectable plasma TNF-α levels ranging from 0.1 to 106.4 pg/mL (mean, 23.46 pg/mL), whereas only 12 out of 25 control participants had detectable plasma TNF-α levels ranging from 0.1 to 33.3 pg/mL (mean, 6.93 pg/mL). The difference between the TNF-α levels of patients and controls was statistically significant (P = .015) according to the Mann-Whitney test.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with oral submucous fibrosis had significantly increased TNF-α levels compared with controls.
Associate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan Sanstha Dental College and Hospital, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
Sonia
S
Sodhi
Sodhi's Orthodontic Dental Clinic, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
Jasmeet Singh
JS
Sodhi
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan Sanstha Dental College and Hospital, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. Electronic address: Khamboo1927@gmail.com.
Neha
N
Khambete
Assistant Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Mahatma Gandhi Mission's Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Rahul
R
Kumar
Professor and Head, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Manjula
M
Marthala
Sodhi's Orthodontic Dental Clinic, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
Neha Kaur
NK
Sodhi
D001114:Areca; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha