“Estimation of Plasma Fibrinogen Degradation Products in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Clinicopathologic Study”

Introduction: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder with a multifactorial etiology. Recent studies have shown that there are increased levels of fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) in the plasma of OSMF patients suggesting its possible role in etiopathogenesis. Purpose: To assess the FDP levels in the plasma of OSMF patients in betel nut chewers and in healthy participants without any habits. To correlate the plasma levels of FDP in various clinical stages of OSMF and their role in the etiopathogenesis of the same. Further to read the significance of plasma FDP if any as a prognostic indicator in betel nut chewers without clinical OSMF. Materials and Methods: This study included 40 cases of betel nut chewers with OSMF, 30 participants with habit of betel nut chewing, and 30 participants without the habit. All participants were evaluated for plasma FDP levels. Results: In this study, all the participants with OSMF with habit were found to be FDP positive, there were no FDP positive cases for healthy participants without habit. Among the healthy participants with habit, 3 out of 30 were found to be FDP positive. Comparison of FDP values with clinical stages of 40 OSMF patients showed that the correlation was statistically significant. Conclusion: About 40 cases of clinico-histopathological proven cases of OSMF were included in the present study. All OSMF cases showed an increased trend in the plasma FDP level which was found to directly correlated with the severity of the disease.