Open AccessLow-Level Laser Therapy for Herpesvirus Infections: A Narrative Literature Review
Author(s) -
С В Москвин
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of lasers in medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2228-6721
pISSN - 2008-9783
DOI - 10.34172/jlms.2021.38
Subject(s) - medicine , narrative review , laser therapy , low level laser therapy , laser , human herpesvirus , dermatology , pathological , treatment modality , laser treatment , modalities , intensive care medicine , virus , surgery , pathology , immunology , optics , social science , physics , sociology
Herpesvirus infection has a variety of clinical forms and is extremely widespread in the world while existing treatment methods are not always quite effective. The search for new treatment modalities is a relevant problem and numerous studies show the therapeutic effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on different herpesvirus types. Methods: The mechanisms of laser light action and the impact of LLLT on the pathological pathways of herpes infections are described. A narrative review of the relevant papers is conducted. Results: The reviewed studies confirm that LLLT is a potential prospective treatment method for patients infected with the herpesvirus. However, it is necessary to improve the methodology and optimize the combination of laser action with antiviral medications. Conclusion: The review shows that it is most effective to combine laser impact on skin lesions with the application of topical antiviral gels or creams, additionally using a combined procedure of laser ultraviolet blood illumination (LUVBI, 365-405 nm) + intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI, 525 nm).