SALIVARY CORTISOL LEVELS TO ESTABLISH A CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIP IN PROGRESSION OF ORAL POTENTIALLY MALIGNANT DISORDERS

Abstract

The progression and development of OPMDs is inuenced by a multitude of factors which include complex interactions between physiological, psychological, behavioral and social factors. The persistent activation of HPA axis through tobacco usage probably impairs immune response and has a role in progression of OPMDs. The quantication of salivary cortisol facilitates the assessment of nicotine impact on the oral mucosa and in the progression of OPMDs. This study was undertaken to estimate the salivary cortisol levels in the OPMDs with and without habits thereby signifying the importance of salivary cortisol in the causation of disease or as an effective biomarker for disease progression during the pathogenetic process of the disease. Salivary cortisol levels were estimated by ELISA technique in 29 cases of differing grades of oral potentially malignant disorders consisting of individuals with habit and lesions (Group I), 32 cases of individuals having habit without lesions (Group II) and 3 cases of individuals having lesion without habit (Group III) and 8 cases with neither habit nor lesions (Group IV). Salivary cortisol levels were correlated within the different study groups and were analyzed using SPSS (version 20). Salivary cortisol levels were raised in group I as compared to all other groups. Clarity in the present study has been achieved that salivary cortisol levels can be researched to the causation of the disease as an important step forward. This study could open up newer avenues in understanding the pathogenetic mechanisms in Oral Potentially malignant disorders.