Antiinflammatory effect of laser therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.

The effect of a 940-980 nm length wave laser radiation on rheumatoid arthritis was analyzed in 60 patients: 44 adults and 16 children. Each joint was daily treated by irradiation during 7 minutes for a period of 10 days. The evolution was estimated using an analogic scale with 3 steps for 2 parameters: local pain and local inflammation for each treated joint. The evolution was favourable in both aspects, but the inflammation seemed to be better influenced than the pain. The evolution was better in children than in adults. The inflammations of the interphalangeal, carpometacarpal and shoulder's joints were a better evolution than the knee inflammation. The serological data were not influenced by laser therapy. When relapse never the treated joint was affected again. No adverse or unwanted effects were observed during the treatment excepting a sedation and an increase of night sleep duration.