Improving Quality of Life for Women with vulvar Lichen Sclerosus using Low Level Laser Therapy - Study

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a long-lasting, inflammatory condition affecting the skin in the genital and nongenital areas. Recent study aimed to investigate whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can improve the quality of life in women with lichen sclerosus (LS) who have an insufficient response to topical treatments. The study was a descriptive prospective observational study conducted at the University Hospital of Southern Denmark between January 2016 and January 2018.

Study Design and Treatment Plan

The study included 100 women with LS who had an insufficient response to topical treatments such as ultrapotent steroids or calcineurin inhibitors. All participants received 10 LLLT treatments (808 nm, 500 mW) over an 8-week period, with the first 4 treatments planned twice per week and the remaining 6 treatments once per week. The effect of the treatment was monitored using a Danish health-related quality of life (HRQoL) tool called the DoloTest.

Results and Patient Demographics

A total of 94 patients completed the study, with a median age of 62 years. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in 7 of the 8 domains of the HRQoL test after the 10 LLLT treatments. The most significant improvements were observed in the domains of pain, low spirit, problems with more strenuous physical activity, and sleep. The only domain that did not show a statistically significant improvement was problems at work.

Subgroup Analysis

The study also analyzed the effect of LLLT in different patient subgroups. The results were statistically significant in all subgroups except for the smoking group. The effect seemed to be highest in patients under 62 years of age, those with a diagnostic delay of more than 2 years, those with a disease duration of more than 3 years, those with a weekly use of topical treatment above 4 times, and those who were diagnosed clinically.

Conclusion

The authors concluded that LLLT can be considered as a supplemental therapy to topical treatments in patients with LS who experience an insufficient response and poor quality of life. The study also found the visual effect of the HRQoL test to be useful for patients in understanding the impact of LS on their quality of life.

Key Points

Here are the 6 key points from the research paper:

1. The study investigated whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can improve the quality of life in women with lichen sclerosus (LS) who have an insufficient response to topical treatments.

2. The study included 100 women with LS who had an insufficient response to topical treatments. They received 10 LLLT treatments over an 8-week period, and the effect was monitored using a Danish health-related quality of life (HRQoL) tool called the DoloTest.

3. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in 7 of the 8 domains of the HRQoL test after the 10 LLLT treatments, with the most significant improvements observed in the domains of pain, low spirit, problems with more strenuous physical activity, and sleep.

4. The subgroup analysis found the effect of LLLT to be statistically significant in all subgroups except the smoking group. The effect seemed to be highest in patients under 62 years of age, those with a diagnostic delay of more than 2 years, those with a disease duration of more than 3 years, those with a weekly use of topical treatment above 4 times, and those who were diagnosed clinically.

5. The authors concluded that LLLT can be considered as a supplemental therapy to topical treatments in patients with LS who experience an insufficient response and poor quality of life.

6. The study found the visual effect of the HRQoL test to be useful for patients in understanding the impact of LS on their quality of life.

Reference –

Pia Kirstine Berthelsen, Sidsel Eb Ipsen & Mohammed R. Khalil (2024) Low-level laser therapy: an efficient supplement to treatments of vulvar Lichen sclerosus to improve quality of life, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 44:1, 2349965, DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2024.2349965