Efficacy of low level laser therapy in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of herpes zoster (HZ) and defined as pain that persists for more than 90 days after the onset of HZ rash. The chronic pain of PHN is debilitating and often associated with significant morbidity. It is a neuropathic pain and m...

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Main Authors: Lili Legiawati, Marsha Bianti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Indonesia 2018-12-01
Series:JDVI (Journal of General Procedural Dermatology & Venereology Indonesia)
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jgenprodvi.ui.ac.id/index.php/jdvi/article/view/120/pdf
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author Lili Legiawati
Marsha Bianti
author_facet Lili Legiawati
Marsha Bianti
author_sort Lili Legiawati
collection DOAJ
description Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of herpes zoster (HZ) and defined as pain that persists for more than 90 days after the onset of HZ rash. The chronic pain of PHN is debilitating and often associated with significant morbidity. It is a neuropathic pain and manifests as allodynia, hyperalgesia, or spontaneous pain. Although it is not considered to be life-threatening, sometime HZ is inadequately treated and may result in more severe PHN. Various treatment protocols for PHN are available; however, the result remains unsatisfactorily. The use of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in pain management is relatively new and is used with increasing frequency in the management of chronic pain. Aim: To assess the efficacy of low level laser therapy in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Methods: Articles were searched through Pubmed/ MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Google scholar. Two randomized-controlled trials by Kemmotsu et al. and Moore et al. were obtained and critically appraised. Results: Based on the appraisal, studies by Kemmotsu et al. and Moore et al. are considered valid, important, and applicable. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in PHN intensity following a course of LLLT (p< 0.05). Conclusion: There is a statistically significant difference between the involvement of LLLT in PHN patients and without involvement of LLLT. LLLT is a noninvasive, painless, and safe method of treatment and may be recommended as an early intervention for pain therapy of PHN.
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spelling doaj.art-ce2a4882651f4351bd4af4f455d88d9c2022-12-21T20:44:32ZengUniversitas IndonesiaJDVI (Journal of General Procedural Dermatology & Venereology Indonesia)2460-79912460-79912018-12-013161010.19100/jdvi.v3i1.120Efficacy of low level laser therapy in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgiaLili Legiawati0Marsha Bianti1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, IndonesiaDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, IndonesiaBackground: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of herpes zoster (HZ) and defined as pain that persists for more than 90 days after the onset of HZ rash. The chronic pain of PHN is debilitating and often associated with significant morbidity. It is a neuropathic pain and manifests as allodynia, hyperalgesia, or spontaneous pain. Although it is not considered to be life-threatening, sometime HZ is inadequately treated and may result in more severe PHN. Various treatment protocols for PHN are available; however, the result remains unsatisfactorily. The use of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in pain management is relatively new and is used with increasing frequency in the management of chronic pain. Aim: To assess the efficacy of low level laser therapy in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Methods: Articles were searched through Pubmed/ MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Google scholar. Two randomized-controlled trials by Kemmotsu et al. and Moore et al. were obtained and critically appraised. Results: Based on the appraisal, studies by Kemmotsu et al. and Moore et al. are considered valid, important, and applicable. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in PHN intensity following a course of LLLT (p< 0.05). Conclusion: There is a statistically significant difference between the involvement of LLLT in PHN patients and without involvement of LLLT. LLLT is a noninvasive, painless, and safe method of treatment and may be recommended as an early intervention for pain therapy of PHN.http://www.jgenprodvi.ui.ac.id/index.php/jdvi/article/view/120/pdflow level laser therapyherpes zosterpainpostherpetic neuralgiatreatment
spellingShingle Lili Legiawati
Marsha Bianti
Efficacy of low level laser therapy in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia
JDVI (Journal of General Procedural Dermatology & Venereology Indonesia)
low level laser therapy
herpes zoster
pain
postherpetic neuralgia
treatment
title Efficacy of low level laser therapy in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia
title_full Efficacy of low level laser therapy in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia
title_fullStr Efficacy of low level laser therapy in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy of low level laser therapy in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia
title_short Efficacy of low level laser therapy in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia
title_sort efficacy of low level laser therapy in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia
topic low level laser therapy
herpes zoster
pain
postherpetic neuralgia
treatment
url http://www.jgenprodvi.ui.ac.id/index.php/jdvi/article/view/120/pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT lililegiawati efficacyoflowlevellasertherapyinthetreatmentofpostherpeticneuralgia
AT marshabianti efficacyoflowlevellasertherapyinthetreatmentofpostherpeticneuralgia