Elevated Salivary TNF-α Levels and Clinical Severity of Oral Lichen Planus

Authors

  • Hamzah Waleed Ahmed Alkuhla Al_Farabi university college of dentistry
  • Dhiaa Hasan Hadi
  • Haider Kamil Mahdi Al-Jobori
  • Rawaa Basil Fadil
  • Nabil Ibrahim Abbas

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/d3000.2026.1489

Keywords:

Inflammation, Saliva, Oral Medicine

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate salivary TNF‑α levels in patients with OLP compared to healthy controls and to assess correlations with clinical subtypes. A cross‑sectional study was conducted on 35 participants (20 OLP patients and 15 controls) recruited from Al‑Farabi University College of Dentistry. Saliva samples were collected and analyzed using ELISA to quantify TNF‑α concentrations. TNF‑α levels were significantly higher in OLP patients (48.9 ± 9.8 pg/mL) compared to controls (18.5 ± 8.1 pg/mL; p < 0.000001). Within the patient group, ulcerative lesions exhibited markedly elevated TNF‑α levels (59.9 ± 2.0 pg/mL) compared to reticular lesions (46.3 ± 7.8 pg/mL; p = 0.024). No significant differences in age or gender distribution were observed between groups. Elevated salivary TNF‑α levels in OLP patients, particularly in erosive forms, highlight the cytokine’s pivotal role in disease progression and severity. TNF‑α may serve as a potential biomarker for monitoring OLP activity and guiding therapeutic strategies.

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Published

2026-08-14

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026)

Section

Adults & the Elderly

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Hamzah Waleed Ahmed Alkuhla, Dhiaa Hasan Hadi, Haider Kamil Mahdi Al-Jobori, Rawaa Basil Fadil, Nabil Ibrahim Abbas

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