Khouri, V.Y., Stracieri, A.B., Rodrigues, M.C., Moraes, D.A., Pieroni, F., Simoes, B.P., & Voltarelli, J.C. (2009). Use of therapeutic laser for prevention and treatment of oral mucositis. Brazilian Dental Journal, 20(3), 215–220.
To evaluate the frequency and evolution of oral mucositis (OM) among stem cell transplant recipients subjected to therapeutic laser versus mucositis formula
Patients (n = 22) were randomly assigned to control or low level laser therapy (LLLT) daily. The treatment phase for both groups began with the initial clinical manifestations of mucositis with follow up until day +15 after transplant. Two types of laser were used on alternate days, one indicated for tissue repair and the other for analgesia.
This was a single-site conducted in the bone marrow transplant unit (BMTU) of the University Hospital School of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto (UHSMRP) at the University of São Paulo in Brazil.
The study was a randomized controlled trial.
The laser treatment group had lower frequency of oral mucositis (p = 0.02) and a lower mean grade of mucositis (p < 0.01).
The inclusion of LLLT was effective in lowering the frequency and treating oral mucositis in patients being treated with high dose myeloablative chemotherapy in preparation for stem cell transplant.
Laser therapy is effective in the treatment of mucositis, but it is very high tech and requires special equipment and highly trained personnel.