CLINICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE CONCENTRATION IN SERUM AND SALIVA IN PATIENTS WITH POTENTIAL MALIGNANT ORAL LESIONS
Oral cancer is a major global health concern, with a particularly high incidence in developing countries. Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) offer a critical opportunity for early detection and intervention. Identifying reliable, non-invasive biomarkers such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in biological fluids could significantly improve diagnostic and monitoring strategies. This study aimed to clinically and biochemically evaluate LDH concentrations in both serum and saliva among patients with histopathologically confirmed OPMDs, comparing them to healthy controls to assess their diagnostic relevance. A case-control study was conducted involving 24 patients with OPMDs and 22 healthy individuals. Participants were recruited from the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery department. Unstimulated saliva and serum samples were collected and analyzed for LDH activity using spectrophotometry. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA and Mann–Whitney U test, were performed using SPSS version 25. Serum LDH levels were marginally elevated in the OPMD group (mean = 391.83 IU/L) compared to controls (mean = 389.28 IU/L), with a statistically significant difference (ANOVA, F = 97.258, p < 0.000). Salivary LDH levels showed a highly significant difference between groups (Mann–Whitney U = 1.000, p < 0.001), with patients exhibiting markedly higher activity than controls. Salivary LDH levels are significantly elevated in patients with potentially malignant oral lesions and may serve as a sensitive, non-invasive biomarker for early detection and monitoring. Although serum LDH levels demonstrated statistical significance, salivary measurements offer greater diagnostic specificity for oral lesions. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore their prognostic applications.
