Salivary Diagnosis: Detection of Several Intracellular Enzymes in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus

 Introduction: Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease, presenting malignant potential. An association between chronic inflammation and initiation and progression of cancer has long been established. Aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and gammaglutamil transferase are intracellular enzymes associated with cell injury and cell death. The main aim of the present study is to evaluate changes of enzymatic activity of mentioned enzymes in saliva and serum of patients with oral lichen planus. Materials and Methods: 20 patients with oral lichen planus and 20 healthy controls were included in the present study. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gammaglutamil transferase (GGT) were detected in both serum and saliva. Results and Discussions: Salivary levels of ALP were decreased while LDH levels were increased in patients with oral lichen planus vs controls (p<0.05). At the same time GGT and AST levels were decreased (not significantly significant) in oral lichen planus patients and control groups. Serum levels of ALP were markedly increased while GGT was found decreased in patients vs. controls (p<0.05). AST and LDH were decreased but not significantly in oral lichen planus patients as compared to controls. Conclusions: Our results reflect increased levels for salivary LDH and serum ALP in patients with oral lichen panus. Saliva can be used as a new diagnostic fluid to detect certain biomarkers such as enzymes in patients with oral lichen planus.