USE OF PHOTOBIOMODULATORY THERAPY IN THE ADJUVANT TREATMENT OF ORAL MANIFESTATIONS OF GRAFT VERSUS HOST DISEASE

Abstract

<h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of this study was to analyze whether photobiomodulation therapy (PT) improved oral manifestations of graft versus host disease (GVHD). <h3>Study design</h3> A systematic review of the literature was done. <h3>Results</h3> The selection strategy developed allowed the recovery of 20,298 studies, including 6 articles for analysis. The sample consisted of 26 patients, the majority being female, with an average age of 46 years and 19 cases of chronic graft versus host disease. All patients had changes and painful symptoms in the oral cavity, such as ulcers, lichenoid reaction, hyposalivation, stomatitis, and trismus. Studies have shown that the use of PT associated with immunosuppressive drugs resulted in an improvement in oral changes and relief of painful symptoms. However, the small sample and the heterogeneity in the PT protocols, as well as in the method of evaluating the clinical outcome, hinder a better analysis. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Despite the different protocols and devices used, the results are satisfactory and promising in the use of PT as a complementary method in the treatment of oral manifestations of GVHD, requiring randomized controlled trials.