Efficacy of the adjunctive use of photobiomodulation therapy in olfactory disorders in post-COVID-19 patients: A randomized controlled trial
Objectives: Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) is a non-invasive treatment that uses photons from the red to infrared spectrum to modulate cellular processes with anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. This study aimed to evaluate the use of PBMT applied intranasally in patients with an impai...
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1808869425000266 |
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| author | Patricia Costa Oliveira Luisa Oliveira Correia Natalia Medeiros Dias Lopes Gabriel Rodrigues Suassuna Richard L. Doty Fabio de Rezende Pinna Richard Louis Voegels Marco Aurelio Fornazieri |
| author_facet | Patricia Costa Oliveira Luisa Oliveira Correia Natalia Medeiros Dias Lopes Gabriel Rodrigues Suassuna Richard L. Doty Fabio de Rezende Pinna Richard Louis Voegels Marco Aurelio Fornazieri |
| author_sort | Patricia Costa Oliveira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) is a non-invasive treatment that uses photons from the red to infrared spectrum to modulate cellular processes with anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. This study aimed to evaluate the use of PBMT applied intranasally in patients with an impaired sense of smell after COVID-19. Methods: This proof-of-concept study was a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that recruited 81 patients with olfactory disorders after SARS-CoV-2 infection (1–12 months), randomly assigned to 3 groups: controls, red light and infrared light exposure groups. PBMT was applied twice a week for five weeks, associated with prednisolone 40 mg for five days and olfactory training for 90 days from the first day of laser application. UPSIT® and subjective chemosensory scores were the outcomes collected before the first session and three months thereafter. Results: Compared to controls, patients undergoing infrared PBMT showed more improvement in UPSIT® scores (+4.6 points, 95% CI: 1.5–7.8, p = 0.004) and a tendency towards reporting a better subjective smell score at the three-month follow-up. Response rates were 26.1% (95% CI: 6.7–45.5), 43.5% (95% CI: 21.6–65.4), and 68% (95% CI: 48.3–87.7) in the control, red and infrared groups, respectively. No major adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Therapy with PBMT in the infrared frequency appears to be a safe option in treating post-COVID olfactory disorders when combined with a five-day use of systemic corticosteroid and 90 days of olfactory training. Level of evidence: 2. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1129fc6fa47f42bfa4d08a8a6e280cb5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1808-8694 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1129fc6fa47f42bfa4d08a8a6e280cb52025-08-20T03:55:49ZengElsevierBrazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology1808-86942025-07-0191410158310.1016/j.bjorl.2025.101583Efficacy of the adjunctive use of photobiomodulation therapy in olfactory disorders in post-COVID-19 patients: A randomized controlled trialPatricia Costa Oliveira0Luisa Oliveira Correia1Natalia Medeiros Dias Lopes2Gabriel Rodrigues Suassuna3Richard L. Doty4Fabio de Rezende Pinna5Richard Louis Voegels6Marco Aurelio Fornazieri7Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, BrazilPontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Londrina, PR, BrazilGEM, Londrina, PR, BrazilUniversidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, BrazilSmell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesUniversidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniversidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniversidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil; Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Londrina, PR, Brazil; GEM, Londrina, PR, Brazil; Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Corresponding author.Objectives: Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) is a non-invasive treatment that uses photons from the red to infrared spectrum to modulate cellular processes with anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. This study aimed to evaluate the use of PBMT applied intranasally in patients with an impaired sense of smell after COVID-19. Methods: This proof-of-concept study was a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that recruited 81 patients with olfactory disorders after SARS-CoV-2 infection (1–12 months), randomly assigned to 3 groups: controls, red light and infrared light exposure groups. PBMT was applied twice a week for five weeks, associated with prednisolone 40 mg for five days and olfactory training for 90 days from the first day of laser application. UPSIT® and subjective chemosensory scores were the outcomes collected before the first session and three months thereafter. Results: Compared to controls, patients undergoing infrared PBMT showed more improvement in UPSIT® scores (+4.6 points, 95% CI: 1.5–7.8, p = 0.004) and a tendency towards reporting a better subjective smell score at the three-month follow-up. Response rates were 26.1% (95% CI: 6.7–45.5), 43.5% (95% CI: 21.6–65.4), and 68% (95% CI: 48.3–87.7) in the control, red and infrared groups, respectively. No major adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Therapy with PBMT in the infrared frequency appears to be a safe option in treating post-COVID olfactory disorders when combined with a five-day use of systemic corticosteroid and 90 days of olfactory training. Level of evidence: 2.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1808869425000266Olfactory disordersSmellCOVID-19PhotobiomodulationLaser therapy |
| spellingShingle | Patricia Costa Oliveira Luisa Oliveira Correia Natalia Medeiros Dias Lopes Gabriel Rodrigues Suassuna Richard L. Doty Fabio de Rezende Pinna Richard Louis Voegels Marco Aurelio Fornazieri Efficacy of the adjunctive use of photobiomodulation therapy in olfactory disorders in post-COVID-19 patients: A randomized controlled trial Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Olfactory disorders Smell COVID-19 Photobiomodulation Laser therapy |
| title | Efficacy of the adjunctive use of photobiomodulation therapy in olfactory disorders in post-COVID-19 patients: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | Efficacy of the adjunctive use of photobiomodulation therapy in olfactory disorders in post-COVID-19 patients: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of the adjunctive use of photobiomodulation therapy in olfactory disorders in post-COVID-19 patients: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of the adjunctive use of photobiomodulation therapy in olfactory disorders in post-COVID-19 patients: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | Efficacy of the adjunctive use of photobiomodulation therapy in olfactory disorders in post-COVID-19 patients: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | efficacy of the adjunctive use of photobiomodulation therapy in olfactory disorders in post covid 19 patients a randomized controlled trial |
| topic | Olfactory disorders Smell COVID-19 Photobiomodulation Laser therapy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1808869425000266 |
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