Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Al Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia

Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Al Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.

Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Jodhpur Dental College General Hospital, Jodhpur National University, Rajasthan 342003, India.
Oral submucous fibrosis ,Pentoxifylline ,Spirulina ,Treatment ,

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a high risk premalignant condition predominantly seen in the Indian subcontinent. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of newer drugs pentoxifylline and spirulina in the management of OSMF.112 subjects with clinic-pathologically diagnosed OSMF were included in the study and divided equally in 2 groups, Group A (pentoxifylline group) and Group B (spirulina group). Group A was administered 400 mg pentoxifylline twice daily and Group B was given 500 mg spirulina in 2 divided doses for 3 months. Evaluation for different clinical parameters was done at regular intervals and data was analyzed using the Student’s paired t test and Chi-square test. Pvalue <0.001 was considered to be statistically significant. The patients in both the groups showed improvement in all the parameters measured.Clinical improvements in mouth opening was significant in Group A (p<0.001) whereas, ulcers/erosions/vesicles showed significant (p<0.001) improvement in Group B. Subjective symptoms of pain associated with the lesion (p=0.0003) and burning sensation (p=0.0005) was statistically significant in Group A. However, few patients from Group A complained of bloating, nausea, anxiety and dyspepsia.Both the newer drugs showed improvements in the signs and symptoms in OSMF patients.Pentoxifylline can bring about significant clinical improvements in the symptoms like mouth opening and ulcers/erosions/vesicles, thereby improving the quality of life of the affected individuals.

5 , 3 , 2015