[Low-level laser therapy in multiple sclerosis: justification and optimization methods of application. (Literature review)].

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease that is based on a complex of autoimmune inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes leading to multiple focal and diffuse damage of central nervous system. Treatment of MS causes great difficulties.

Objective: To analyze scientific data on the effectiveness and optimization of applying low-level laser therapy methods in patients with MS.

Material and methods: Databases and libraries, namely PubMed, Scopus, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, J-STAGE, eLibrary.ru, were used for search. Publications of interest towards analysis of the ways of optimization of low-level laser therapy techniques and its effectiveness improvement, prospects for the development of this treatment method were selected. The total number of publications equal 87, mostly in English and Russian, was found.

Results: It was demonstrated, that low-level laser therapy can be considered a promising method of MS treatment. Mechanisms of therapeutic action of low-intensity laser radiation were shown, as well as the results of several clinical studies were presented.

Conclusion: It was concluded that optimal values of all technique's indicators, namely wavelength, operation mode, power, frequency, exposure, etc., should be used. Laser blood irradiation (intravenous or external) and laser acupuncture, systemic techniques of low-level laser therapy are obligatory carried out with local irradiation of lesions.