OBJECTIVETo investigate the rate of candidal infection in different condition of oral epithelia, that may imply the possibility of candida in the canceration of oral leukoplakia.

METHODSSaliva culture was used to detect the infection of candida in 100 cases of healthy control group, 110 cases of oral leukoplakia and 11 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma, whose smoking condition were collected carefully. The results were analyzed by Crosstabs, Bivariate Correlations and Binary Logistic Regression analysis.

RESULTSWith Crosstabs and Bivariate Correlations analysis, there was significant correlation within malignant level of oral leukoplakias and candidal infection rates (r = 0.148, P = 0.032). With Crosstabs single factor analysis, there was significant correlation within saliva culture results and pathological types (chi(2) = 21.757, P = 0.010). With Binary Logistic Regression analysis, there was significant correlation within saliva culture results and both of subjects, ages (OR = 0.72, P = 0.000) and duration of smoking (OR = 0.37, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCandidal infection may be one of the most important factors inducing dysplasia of epithelia and malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia. So saliva culture should be taken as a rule for patients with oral leukoplakia. The follow-up of oral leukoplakia patients with candidal infection should be enhanced.