Estimation of the level of salivary proinflammatory cytokine in oral lichen planus – A case–control study in cuddalore-based population

Abstract

Aim: To estimate and compare the proinflammatory cytokine [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] level in the saliva of oral lichen planus (OLP) and controls. Materials and Methods: A total of 22 OLP cases who were clinically and histopathologically proven (12 male and 10 female patients, with a mean age of 42 years) and 22 controls matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status were enrolled in the study. Salivary TNF-α level was analyzed by immunoassay kits. Statistical Package for Social Science version 21.0 software was used for data analysis. Results: The salivary TNF-α level was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in patients than in controls. Conclusion: The results suggest that TNF-α may be a good diagnostic biomarker for this potentially malignant disorder.

Keywords

• Lichen planus
• potentially malignant disorder
• premalignant condition
• proinflammatory cytokine
• salivary diagnostics
• TNF-α