KOREASCHOLAR

The limitation of markers for chronic oral diseases such as oral lichen planus (OLP) and burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. The pathogenesis of OLP and BMS is not yet fully understood. Therefore, diagnoses are mainly based on the observation of clinical features and history, rather than established markers. C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are used to determine the state of inflammation; however, these markers have some limitations. Recently, a new inflammatory marker, pentraxin-3 (PTX3), has been identified in other systemic inflammatory diseases. PTX3 is a member of the pentraxin family and is classified as a long pentraxin. PTX3 is found in various human tissues, whereas the classical short pentraxin, CRP, is secreted only in the liver. PTX3 is a marker of autoimmune diseases and periodontitis. However, there are no studies on PTX3 in OLP and BMS; therefore, we sought to determine if PTX3 can be a diagnostic marker for OLP and BMS. PTX3 was found to be correlated with other inflammatory markers, suggesting its diagnostic value for inflammatory oral diseases. We also found that the PTX3 levels were lower in patients with OLP and BMS. ESR levels were elevated in the OLP and BMS groups, but CRP levels were not. Despite these associations, no correlation was found between PTX3 expression and other known clinical features of OLP and BMS. We suggest that PTX3 plays a role in the immunological and neurological pathways involved in the complex pathogenesis of OLP and BMS.

Ⅰ. INTRODUCTION
Ⅱ. MATERIALS and METHODS
    1. Patient selection
    2. Blood Samples Collection
    3. Measurement of PTX3 in plasma samples
    4. Statistical analysis
Ⅲ. RESULTS
    1. PTX3 shows a negative correlation with ESR
    2. Plasma PTX3 levels are reduced in bothOLP and BMS
    3. Plasma PTX3 is not associated with clinicalfeatures of OLP and BMS
Ⅳ. DISCUSSION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
REFERENCES

• 김도연(부산대학교 치의학전문대학원 구강병리학교실, 부산대학교 치의생명과학교육연구팀) | DoYeon Kim (Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Education and Research Team for Life Science on Dentistry, Pusan National University)
• 우복희(부산대학교 치의학전문대학원 구강병리학교실) | Bok Hee Woo (Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University)
• 송재민(부산대학교 치의학전문대학원 구강악안면외과학교실) | Jae-Min Song (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University)
• 주지영(부산대학교 치의학전문대학원 치주과학교실) | Ji-Young Joo (Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University)
• 옥수민(부산대학교 치의학전문대학원 구강내과학교실) | Soo-Min Ok (Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University) Corresponding author
• 박혜련(부산대학교 치의학전문대학원 구강병리학교실) | Hae Ryoun Park (Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University) Corresponding author