LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY FOR XEROSTOMIA IN A PATIENT WITH SJOGREN'S SYNDROME: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

A 58-year-old woman presenting xerostomia was diagnosed with Sjögren´s Syndrome at our service. Low-lever laser therapy (LLLT - 100mW) was used to irradiate the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands, once a week for 15 weeks. Each irradiation point received a dose of 2 J/cm2. The salivary flow rate was measured and a questionnaire for xerostomia were applied before LLLT (0.58mL/min), after 10 sessions (0.62 mL/min), after 15 sessions (0.65 mL/min), after one month from the end of treatment (0.25 mL/min), and then after five months (0.23 mL/min). Increase of salivary flow and the dry mouth symptoms improved during LLLT. However, after therapy stopped, she reported that her mouth was not moistened as when she was during LLLT. This case shows a beneficial effect of LLLT on salivary gland function, alleviating the symptoms and influencing the patients' quality of life, although they are not permanent. A 58-year-old woman presenting xerostomia was diagnosed with Sjögren´s Syndrome at our service. Low-lever laser therapy (LLLT - 100mW) was used to irradiate the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands, once a week for 15 weeks. Each irradiation point received a dose of 2 J/cm2. The salivary flow rate was measured and a questionnaire for xerostomia were applied before LLLT (0.58mL/min), after 10 sessions (0.62 mL/min), after 15 sessions (0.65 mL/min), after one month from the end of treatment (0.25 mL/min), and then after five months (0.23 mL/min). Increase of salivary flow and the dry mouth symptoms improved during LLLT. However, after therapy stopped, she reported that her mouth was not moistened as when she was during LLLT. This case shows a beneficial effect of LLLT on salivary gland function, alleviating the symptoms and influencing the patients' quality of life, although they are not permanent.