Total Serum Protein Estimation and Its Correlation with Clinical and Histopathological Grading using Masson's Trichrome Stain in Patients of Oral Submucous Fibrosis

OBJECTIVES Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) caused by dense deposition of collagen fibers which is a protein. There is a plethora of research to evaluate degree of collagen deposition using various simple histochemical techniques, but its correlation with total serum protein (TSP) level has not been explored so far. MATERIALS AND METHODS This case-control study comprised total forty samples with thirty cases of OSMF and ten cases were selected as control group, divided into four groups as per Lai et al. classification. Histological grading was also done according to the Rooban et al.'s classification. Blood sample was collected to evaluate TSP estimation. Findings were tabulated, and comparisons were made between clinical, histological, and TSP estimation. Discrete statistical data were analyzed by Chi-square test, ANOVA, and t-test with a statistical analysis package (SPSS version software 6.0). RESULTS No significant correlation was obtained between clinical staging and histopathological grading. Definite correlation was obtained in TSP and globulin levels of OSMF patients and their grades of fibrosis histopathologically. CONCLUSION In the present study, it was observed that biochemical investigations involving assessment of TSP can be used as a diagnostic tool in OSMF, along with histopathological examination.