Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Hand Foot Syndrome associated with Chemotherapy

H.A.M.I. Badr al-din, A.M.A. El baky, M.A. Rahman, K.I. Saafan
The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 82(4), 637-640, 2021

Background: we speculate that low level laser might decrease the inflammatory reactions and pain associated with hand foot syndrome because low-level laser therapy, has proven high efficacy in the management of chemotherapy/radiation-induced oral mucositis and radiation-induced dermatitis that might share some physio- pathological characteristics with hand foot syndrome,
Objective: To determine whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) might be effective for chemotherapy-induced hand foot syndrome (HFS).
Patients and methods: This study included thirty patients with hand foot syndrome (grade I -II - III according to WHO definition) after treatment with chemotherapy from both sexes. Their ages ranged from 35-60 years. Patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups in number. Group A (the study group) included fifteen patients received low-level laser therapy in addition to the traditional medical treatment. Group B (control group) included fifteen patients received the traditional medical treatment. The participants of both groups were assessed by the following tools to assess the impact of HFS on quality of life by visual analogue scale and HFS-14 questionnaire. Results: There was a significant decrease in VAS and HFS-14 questionnaire score post treatment in the study and control groups compared to that of pretreatment (p > 0.001). The percentages of decrease in VAS and HFS-14 questionnaire score in the study group were 48.29% and 34.22% respectively, while for the control group, they were 28.75% and 18.82% respectively.
Conclusion: Based on this study, it could be concluded that LLLT might represent a useful approach for the management of HFS.