Salivary and Serum IgA Evaluation of Patients with Oro-Facial Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Taye J. Lasisi, Bidemi O. Yusuf, Olawale A. Lasisi, Efiong E. U. Akang

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Department of Pathology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ijohns.2013.21011                

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate salivary and serum levels of Immunoglobulin A (IgA) in patients with oro-facial squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: This is a cross sectional study. Patients with oro-facial squamous cell carcinoma attending the Oral Pathology and Radiotherapy clinics of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria were included. Seventy subjects comprising 22 patients with untreated OSCC, 18 patients with OSCC receiving treatment and 30 healthy, age and gender matched individuals were included. Serum and salivary samples from the participants were analysed for IgA levels using ELISA technique. Results: The mean value of serum IgA in OSCC patients receiving treatment was significantly lower compared with healthy controls (p = 0.03), while no significant difference was observed comparing untreated OSCC patients with treated and healthy controls. The salivary IgA levels did not show any significant difference between the three groups (p = 0.73). Also, there was no correlation between serum and salivary levels of IgA among the subjects. Conclusions: Serum IgA appeared to be better index than salivary IgA levels in monitoring response to treatment in patients with oro-facial carcinoma.

Keywords

Saliva; Serum; Immunoglobulin; Oro-Facial Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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