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Influence of low‐energy laser in the prevention of oral mucositis in children with cancer receiving chemotherapy
Author(s) -
Cruz Luciane B.,
Ribeiro Anelise S.,
Rech Angela,
Rosa Lauro G.N.,
Castro Cláudio G.,
Brunetto Algemir L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.20943
Subject(s) - mucositis , medicine , chemotherapy , low level laser therapy , randomized controlled trial , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , cancer , surgery , transplantation , laser therapy , laser , physics , optics
Background This study assessed the use of low‐energy laser in the prevention or reduction of the severity of oral mucositis. Procedure A randomized clinical trial was carried out. Patients from 3 to 18 years of age treated with chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem‐cell transplantation between May, 2003 and February, 2005 were elegible. The intervention group received laser application for 5 days following the start of chemotherapy. The grade of oral mucositis was assessed by the WHO per NCI‐CTC common toxicity criteria and the assessments were made on days 1, 8 and 15 by a trained examiner blind to the intervention. Results Sixty patients were evaluable for analysis; thirty‐nine (65%) were males, 35 (58%) patients had a diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma, and 25 (42%) had solid tumors. The mean age was 8.7 ± 4.3 years. Twenty‐nine patients were randomized in the laser group and 31 in the control group. On day 1, no patients presented with mucositis. On day 8, of 20 patients (36%) who developed mucositis, 13 of them were from the laser group and 7 from the control group. On day 15, of 24 patients (41%) who developed mucositis, 13 of them were from the laser group and 11 from the control group. There was no significant difference between groups concerning the grades of mucositis on day 8 ( P = 0.234) or on day 15 ( P = 0.208). Conclusions This study showed no evidence of benefit from the prophylactic use of low‐energy laser in children and adolescents with cancer treated with chemotherapy when optimal dental and oral care was provided. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.