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Efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in recurrent herpes labialis management: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Objectives

This study is aimed at assessing the therapeutic efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for the management of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) by evaluating both pain and clinical recovery.

Material and methods

A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted on 40 patients with RHL, and they were randomly divided into two groups, where 20 patients received treatment with PBMT (650 nm, 100 mW, 4.7 J/cm2), continuous mode, for 120 s, and placebo cream, while another 20 patients (control group) were treated with acyclovir cream 5% (5 times/5 days) and passive laser. Pain was assessed at five different times. The day when the complete disappearance of the pain was observed and the day when the crust fell off spontaneously were also recorded.

Results

The pain level in the control group was significantly higher than that in the PBMT group after the second application of the laser, while the differences were not significant between the two groups at other times. The pain in the PBMT group disappeared faster than that in the control group, but the difference was not significant in terms of clinical recovery.

Conclusions

Photobiomodulation therapy of herpes labialis reduced pain significantly faster than acyclovir, but there was no difference in healing time between the groups in light of the parameters used in this study.

Clinical relevance

PBMT is a promising treatment that may be an effective alternative to acyclovir in the management of recurrent herpes labialis.

Trial registration

isrctn.com ID: ISRCTN87606522.

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Acknowledgements

This paper and the research behind it would not have been possible without the exceptional support of all authors, their institutions, and department staff.

Funding

This study research is funded by Damascus University – funder No. 501100020595.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Dentistry, Oral Medicine Department, Oral Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria

    Mai Adnan Gaizeh Al-Hallak & Abeer Ahmad Aljoujou

  2. Faculty of Dentistry, Syrian Private University, Damascus, Syria

    Karim Chalhoub

  3. Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damascus, Syria

    Jamileh Ali Hsaian

Authors
  1. Mai Adnan Gaizeh Al-Hallak
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  2. Karim Chalhoub
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  3. Jamileh Ali Hsaian
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  4. Abeer Ahmad Aljoujou
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Contributions

All authors contributed to drafting and reviewing the manuscript and approving its final version. Mai Gaizeh Al-Hallak participated in the study concept, design, registration, clinical work, data registration, and statistical analysis. Karim Chalhoub contributed to the clinical outcome evaluation and statistical analysis. Professor Jamileh Hsaian participated in the design and registration of the study. Assistant Professor Abeer Aljoujou contributed to the study design, registration, and supervision of clinical work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mai Adnan Gaizeh Al-Hallak.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was conducted according to the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Damascus University (Date 2021/No 2640). All patients signed a written consent form to participate in the present study.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Gaizeh Al-Hallak, M.A., Chalhoub, K., Hsaian, J.A. et al. Efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in recurrent herpes labialis management: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Oral Invest 28, 157 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-024-05541-5

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