Although occasionally preceded by and/or associated with vesicle formation, it is always associated with a juxta-epithelial inflammatory reaction followed by a fibroelastic change of the lamina propria with epithelial atrophy leading to stiffness of the oral mucosa, progressive decrement in mouth opening and inability to eatPer Chandramani More and Naman Rao (2019) (Clinical definition)-
A debilitating, progressive, irreversible collagen metabolic disorder induced by chronic chewing of areca nut and its commercial preparations; affecting the oral mucosa and occasionally the pharynx and esophagus; leading to mucosal stiffness and functional morbidity; and has a potential risk of malignant transformation. Epidemiology
The incidence of the disease is higher in people from certain parts of the world including South and South East Asian, South Africa and the Middle Eastern countries. Symptoms
In the initial phase of the disease, the mucosa feels leathery with palpable fibrotic bands. In the advanced stage the oral mucosa loses its resiliency and becomes blanched and stiff. The disease is believed to begin in the posterior part of the oral cavity and gradually spread outward. Other features of the disease include: 

Xerostomia
Recurrent ulceration
Pain in the ear or deafness
Nasal intonation of voice
Restriction of the movement of the soft palate
A budlike shrunken uvula
Thinning and stiffening of the lips
Pigmentation of the oral mucosa
Dryness of the mouth and burning sensation (stomatopyrosis)
Decreased mouth opening and tongue protrusion

Causes
Dried products such as paan masala and gutkha have higher concentrations of areca nut and appear to cause the disease.
Pentoxifylline (Trental), a methylxanthine derivative that has vasodilating properties and increases mucosal vascularity, is also recommended as an adjunct therapy in the routine management of oral submucous fibrosis. IFN-gamma is antifibrotic cytokine which alters collagen synthesis and helps in OSF. Colchicine tablets 0.5 mg twice a day
Lycopene, 16 mg a day helps in improvement of OSFThe treatment of patients with oral submucous fibrosis depends on the degree of clinical involvement. If the disease is detected at a very early stage, cessation of the habit is sufficient. Most patients with oral submucous fibrosis present with moderate-to-severe disease. Severe oral submucous fibrosis is irreversible. Moderate oral submucous fibrosis is reversible with cessation of habit and mouth opening exercise. Current modern day medical treatments can make the mouth opening to normal  minimum levels  of 30 mm mouth opening with proper treatment. Research
Recently scientists have proven that intralesional injection of autologous bone marrow stem cells is a safe and effective treatment modality in oral sub mucosal fibrosis. It has been shown autologous bone marrow stem cell injections induces angiogenesis in the area of lesion which in turn decreases the extent of fibrosis thereby leading to significant increase in mouth opening. History
In 1952, T.Sheikh coined the term distrophica idiopathica mucosa oris to describe an oral fibrosing disease he discovered in five Indian women from Kenya. S.G. Joshi subsequently coined the termed oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) for the condition in 1953. See also
Cutaneous condition

References


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