title: The Impact of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Oral Mucositis and Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Using the Oral Health Impact Profile and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation Questionnaires.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the impact of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on oral mucositis (OM) and quality of life (QoL) of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  OM related to high-dose chemotherapy is often associated with increased risk of mortality and impaired QoL in HSCT patients. LLLT has shown promising effects in the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced OM. There is a dearth of literature focused on subjective aspects involving OM and QoL in patients receiving LLLT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients were randomly assigned to two groups: control (n=19) and laser (n=20). LLLT was performed from the 1st day of the conditioning regimen until day 7 post-HSCT (D+7). OM severity was evaluated in all patients [World Health Organization (WHO) scale]. A blinded observer collected subjective outcomes from patients on admission (AD), D+7 and at discharge (DC). QoL was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation (FACT-BMT) questionnaires. Statistical analyses included descriptive, bivariate and multivariate (generalized estimating equation) tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall FACT-BMT (p=0.074) and OHIP-14 (p=0.749) scores were not associated with the use of laser therapy. Both instruments showed a deterioration in QoL for the whole sample on D+7. The laser group presented less severe OM than the control group (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LLLT did not influence the oral and general health-related QoL of patients undergoing HSCT, although it was clinically effective in reducing the severity of chemotherapy-induced OM.
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Goiás , Goiás, Brazil .
authors.forename: Lorrany Candido
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Goiás , Goiás, Brazil .
authors.forename: Nancy Tomoko
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Sacono
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Goiás , Goiás, Brazil .
authors.forename: Maria do Carmo Matias
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Goiás , Goiás, Brazil .
authors.forename: Luciane Rezende
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Goiás , Goiás, Brazil .
authors.forename: Aline Carvalho
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.affiliation: 4 Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Araújo Jorge Hospital , Associação de Combate ao Câncer de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil .
authors.forename: Geisa Badauy Lauria
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult