Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Center for Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (PUC-Campinas), Campinas, Brazil.
Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2024 Mar;42(3):215-224. doi: 10.1089/photob.2023.0148. Epub 2024 Feb 28.
The aim of this study is to evaluate local and systemic photobiomodulation (PBM) in patients with COVID-19-related dysgeusia, with the expectation of improving taste dysfunction. PBM has garnered attention as a potential therapy in long COVID, a condition characterized by many persistent symptoms following the acute phase of COVID-19. Among these symptoms, dysgeusia, or altered taste perception, can significantly affect patients' quality of life. Emerging research suggests that PBM may hold promise in ameliorating dysgeusia by modulating cellular processes and reducing inflammation. Further clinical studies and randomized controlled trials are essential to establish the efficacy and safety of PBM for the treatment of dysgeusia in long COVID, but initial evidence suggests that this noninvasive modality may offer a novel avenue for symptom management. Seventy patients experiencing dysgeusia were randomly assigned to receive active local and systemic PBM ( = 34) or simulated PBM ( = 36). Low-power laser (red wavelength) was used at 18 spots on the lateral borders of the tongue (3 J per spot), salivary glands (parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands-3 J per spot), and over the carotid artery for 10 min (60 J). Alongside laser therapy, all patients in both groups received weekly olfactory therapy for up to 8 weeks. Dysgeusia improved in both groups. At weeks 7 and 8, improvement scores were significantly higher in the PBM group than in the sham group ( = 0.048). Combined local and systemic PBM, as applied in this study, proved effective and could serve as a viable treatment option for alleviating dysgeusia in long-COVID patients. Clinical Trial Registration: RBR-2mfbkkk.
本研究旨在评估 COVID-19 相关性味觉障碍患者的局部和全身光生物调节（PBM），以期改善味觉障碍。PBM 作为长 COVID 的一种潜在治疗方法引起了关注，长 COVID 是 COVID-19 急性期后许多持续症状的一种病症。在这些症状中，味觉障碍或味觉感知改变会显著影响患者的生活质量。新出现的研究表明，PBM 通过调节细胞过程和减轻炎症可能对改善味觉障碍有一定作用。进一步的临床研究和随机对照试验对于确定 PBM 在长 COVID 味觉障碍治疗中的疗效和安全性至关重要，但初步证据表明，这种非侵入性方法可能为症状管理提供新途径。 70 名味觉障碍患者被随机分为接受局部和全身 PBM（n=34）或模拟 PBM（n=36）。在舌侧边缘的 18 个点（每个点 3 J）、唾液腺（腮腺、舌下腺和颌下腺-每个点 3 J）和颈动脉上使用低功率激光（红色波长）照射 10 分钟（60 J）。除激光治疗外，两组患者均每周接受嗅觉治疗，最长 8 周。两组的味觉障碍均有改善。在第 7 周和第 8 周，PBM 组的改善评分明显高于模拟组（ = 0.048）。 本研究中应用的局部和全身联合 PBM 被证明是有效的，可作为缓解长 COVID 患者味觉障碍的一种可行治疗选择。临床试验注册：RBR-2mfbkkk。
