Serum Iron and Haemoglobin Estimation in Oral Submucous Fibrosis and Iron Deficiency Anaemia: A Diagnostic Approach

Hematological profile of OSMF patients with increasing severity

Haematological profile of patients with oral sub mucous fibrosis (OSMF) and its correlation with the severity of OSMF is evaluated. The study comprised of sixty participants with clinical diagnoses. They were divided into smaller groups based on the OSMF stage. Sixty age and gender matched healthy controls were chosen among patients presenting for routine hematological examinations and free of systemic illnesses. Assessment of iron, hemoglobin, and red cell indices in all study participants was carried out. It was observed that the values of haematological tests like (Hb (g/dL), PCV, MCV (fl), MCH, MCHC, Iron (mg/dL) and Vitamin B12 (pg/Ml) was greater in normal subjects as compared to OSMF patients. Values were found to decrease further as the severity (staging) of OSMF increased among OSMF patients. The findings were statistically significant showing decrease in the values of different haematological parameters as the stage of OSMF progressed from stage I to stage III.

Evaluation of Hematological Profile in Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Background: The aim of the study is to assess the hematological profile in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) patients.

Methods: The study's participants (100) were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of fifty areca nut chewers with complaints of burning sensations, blanching, and stiffness of the oral mucosa. Group II consisted of fifty healthy patients as controls. A hematological profile was estimated in all subjects.

Results: The control group had a mean hemoglobin (Hb) of 13.87±1.26 g/dL, while the OSMF group had a mean Hb of 11.03±2.16 g/dL (P=0.001). The mean serum iron level in the control group was 120.36±41.22 g/dL, while it was 44.97±13.45 g/dL in the OSMF group (P=0.001). The control group's mean serum vitamin B12 values were 424.77±110.95 g/dL, while the OSMF group's was 210.11±44.88 g/dL (P=0.001). In the research population, 47 patients had iron deficiency. The odds ratio (OR) was 28.11, which meant that the high prevalence of iron deficiency was predicted 28.11 times more often than in the control group.

Conclusion: As part of a biochemical assessment, iron status is assessed as part of a prevention mechanism for people who are at high risk. Biochemical testing has been suggested as a potential tool for mass screening OSMF patients.

Evaluation of Hematological profile in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Cross-sectional Study

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to estimate hemoglobin (Hb) level, red cell indices (RCIs), serum iron level and Vitamin B12 level in patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and to analyze the association of these parameters in different stages of OSMF.

SETTING AND DESIGN

This case-control study comprised of 65 individuals, with 40 OSMF patients and 25 controls. The OSMF patients were graded clinically according to the classification by Arakeri et al. Fasting blood samples were collected from both groups for hematological evaluation.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

The mean values and standard deviations were calculated by Chi-square test. Normality of various parameters was evaluated by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The independent t-test was used to compare more than two means simultaneously. Correlation analysis was done by Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient method.

RESULTS

The OSMF patients were in the age range of 21-67 years, with a mean age of 39.85 ± 10.42 years. The mean value of Hb of the control group was 14.24 ± 1.03 g/dL, whereas that of OSMF group was 11.18 ± 2.06 g/dL (P < 0.001). The mean value of the serum iron level of the control group was 119.67 ± 42.42 μg/dL, whereas that of the OSMF group was 45.04 ± 10.41 μg/dL (P < 0.001). The mean value of serum Vitamin B12 levels of the control group was 422.98 ± 112.57 μg/dL, whereas that of the OSMF group was 211.78 ± 45.17 μg/dL (P < 0.001). The RCIs including packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular Hb (MCH) and MCH concentration were significantly reduced in OSMF cases. Iron deficiency was present in 38 patients among the study group and Vitamin B12 deficiency was present in 22 patients of the study group.

CONCLUSION

OSMF causes depletion of minerals and trace elements, and its replenishment is required for the healing of tissues and performing daily routine activities.

Zinc, Copper, and Iron in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Meta-Analysis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a potentially malignant disorder which causes fibrosis and inflammation of the oral mucosa. Studies have reported altered levels of trace elements in oral submucous fibrosis subjects, but findings have been inconsistent. The objective of this research is to perform a meta-analysis to summarize studies that report zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) in patients, with and without OSF. A literature search of Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science electronic databases was conducted for studies up to January 2017. A total of 34 reports met the inclusion criteria. The standardized mean difference was utilized as the effect size. The robust variance estimation method was chosen to handle dependency of multiple related outcomes in meta-analysis. There was a significant increase in the levels of Cu (effect size = 1.17, p value < 0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.164–2.171) and a significant decrease in levels of Zn (effect size = −1.95, p value < 0.05, 95% CI: −3.524 to −0.367) and Fe (effect size = −2.77, p value < 0.01, 95% CI: −4.126 to −1.406) in OSF patients. The estimation of Zn, Cu, and Fe levels may serve as additional biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of OSF along with the clinical features.