Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in saliva and oral mucosa in patients with oral lichen planus: preliminary observations.

Objective: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is important for wound healing and tissue repair. This study measures the concentration of bFGF in oral lichen planus (OLP) affected mucosa and in the saliva of patients with OLP.

Study Design: Samples of saliva, OLP-affected mucosa, and clinically healthy mucosa were obtained from 11 patients. Control samples were obtained from healthy volunteers. The bFGF content of tissue samples and saliva was examined by ELISA.

Results: The mean bFGF concentration in saliva from OLP patients was 5.9 pg/mL, SD 2.9, compared with 0.3 pg/mL, SD 0.3, in the control group, (P>.01). The bFGF content in the OLP tissue was 90.6 microg/mg protein, SD 39.5, in clinically normal mucosa from OLP individuals it was 46.2 microg/mg protein, SD 12.0 (P=.02), and in the control group 46.2 microg/mg protein, SD 11.5 (P>.01).

Conclusion: OLP-affected mucosa contained significant more bFGF than nonaffected mucosa in OLP and healthy mucosa in control group. There is no difference between nonaffected mucosa in OLP and control group. Saliva in OLP patients contained more bFGF than saliva in control patients.