Pilot study on the efficacy of combined intraoral and extraoral low-level laser therapy for prevention of oral mucositis in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND DATA: Studies suggest that intraoral low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can ameliorate oral mucositis in adult patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of a combined protocol of intraoral and extraoral LLLT in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

METHODS: Twelve children undergoing HSCT were treated four times a week with a combined protocol of intraoral and extraoral LLLT, for a mean duration of 22 days. Clinical and functional mucositis scores were assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE). These scores were compared with a matched retrospective control group of 12 children who did not receive LLLT during HSCT.

RESULTS: Clinical mucositis scores were significantly lower in the LLLT group than in the control group (p = 0.004). Incidence of ulcerative oral mucositis was also significantly lower in the LLLT group (p = 0.027). Functional limitation associated with diet/swallowing was less severe in the LLLT group; however, this was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that a combined protocol of intraoral and extraoral application of LLLT can reduce the severity of oral mucositis in pediatric patients undergoing HSCT. Randomized double-blind clinical trials with a larger number of subjects are needed to further test such combined protocols.