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Low level laser therapy for treatment
of primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.
al-Awami M; Schillinger M; Maca T; Pollanz S; Minar
E
VASA. Zeitschrift für Gefässkrankheiten. Journal for
vascular diseases; VOL: 33 (1); p. 25-9 /200402/
Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized
Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND: We recently performed a pilot study
which suggested that clinical and thermographic
improvements occurred in patients with primary and
secondary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) following
treatment with low level laser irradiation (LLLI).
In view of these findings, we have proceeded with a
double blind, placebo-controlled study.
METHODS: Forty seven patients suffering from primary
or secondary RP were randomly assigned in a
double-blind manner to receive either 10 sessions of
distant LLLI (16 f, 8 m, median age 45 years) or
placebo irradiation (21 f, 2 m, median age 46 years)
during winter months. The attack frequency of RP was
measured by a diary count; its severity was assessed
by means of visual analogue scale. Response to cold
challenge test before and after LLL or placebo
treatment was assessed by infrared thermography.
RESULT: Overall a significant reduction of the
frequency as well as the severity of RP in patients
with either LLLI (frequency p < 0.0001, severity p <
0.0001) or placebo treatment (frequency p < 0.0001,
severity p = 0.02) was found, but patients in the
LLLI group exhibited a statistically more
significant improvement of the frequency at 6 weeks
p = 0.007 and 3 months p = 0.02 and the severity p =
0.02, p = 0.04 of RP. Thermographic response to cold
challenge improved only in patients treated with LLL
but not in those treated with placebo.
CONCLUSION: LLLI significantly lowers the frequency
and severity of Raynaud's attacks in patients with
primary and secondary RP. Since this therapeutic
modality is a safe, and non-invasive treatment, it
might be considered as an alternative to existing
therapeutic regimes.
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