Introduction: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) - a cytokine that is sometimes also referred to as FGF2. It is identified as a strong factor for proliferation and migration of fibroblasts. It also promotes capillary formation and accelerates the tissue regeneration (1, 2).  The objective of this research is estimation of levels of bFGF in saliva of healthy controls and in cases with potential oral premalignant epithelial lesions.

Objectives:

• To study the expression of salivary bFGF in patients with potential premalignant oral epithelial lesions.
• To study the levels of salivary bFGF expression with clinical characteristics in cases and controls.

Study design: Case - control

Materials and methods: This study includes 90 controls and 90 cases with potential pre-malignant oral epithelial lesions. Socio - demographic data was recorded for all the study participants using a questionnaire. An intraoral examination was also done and the daily frequency and total extent of tobacco usage (in years) was also recorded. Clinical parameters were evaluated for all the potential pre-malignant oral epithelial lesions and levels of salivary bFGF were investigated using ELISA technique.

Results: The saliva collected from all the cases indicated occurrence of bFGF. On analysis, significant association (p< 0.0001) was observed between salivary levels of bFGF in controls and diseased cases.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that elevated levels of bFGF can reflect the irreversible progression in potential pre-malignant oral epithelial lesions.

Keywords: Saliva, Basic Fibroblast Growth factor, Oral Sub mucous Fibrosis, Oral leukoplakia