Effect of laser phototherapy on recurring herpes labialis prevention: an in vivo study

Author(s)

de Carvalho, Renata Rodrigues ^[1] ; Eduardo, Fernanda de Paula ^[1] ; Ramalho, Karen Mueller ^[1] ; Ferreira Antunes, Jose Leopoldo ^[2] ; Bezinelli, Leticia Mello ^[1] ; Cury Gallottini de Magalhaes, Marina Helena ^[3] ; Pegoretti, Tatiana ^[1] ; de Freitas, Patricia Moreira ; Eduardo, Carlos de Paula ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Dent, Dept Restorat Dent, Special Lab Lasers Dent, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Dent, Dept Social Dent, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Dent, Dept Oral Diag, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Lasers in Medical Science; v. 25, n. 3, p. 397-402, MAY 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 25

Abstract

Alternative treatment for recurrent labial infection by herpes simplex virus (HSV) have been considered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of laser phototherapy in prevention and reduction of severity of labial manifestations of herpes labialis virus. Seventy-one patients, divided into experimental (n = 41) and control (n = 30) groups were followed up for 16 months. Patients in the control group were treated topically with aciclovir and patients in the experimental group were subjected to laser phototherapy (one session per week, 10 weeks): 780 nm, 60 mW, 3.0 J/cm(2) or 4.5 J/cm(2) on healthy (no HSV-1 infection) and affected (with HSV-1 infection) tissues. Patients in the experimental group presented a significant decrease in dimension of herpes labialis lesions (P = 0.013) and inflammatory edema (P = 0.031). The reduction in pain level (P = 0.051) and monthly recurrences (P = 0.076) did not reach statistical significance. This study represents an in vivo indication that this treatment should be further considered as an effective alternative to therapeutic regimens for herpes labialis lesions. (AU)