Effects of Intravenous Photobiomodulation Therapy in the Management of Patients with COVID-19

Background: The symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) range from asymptomatic to severe respiratory distress or death. Reviews on potential COVID-19 treatments show no established therapy. Photobiomodulation can help in reducing inflammation and speed up tissue repair. In addition, due to its few side effects, it appears to be effective in restricting COVID-19. Therefore, it was decided to use this method in disease control to achieve the systemic impact of intravascular photobiomodulation therapy in this study. Methods: A total of 60 patients were randomly divided into three groups of 20 subjects: A control group that received common treatments for COVID-19, a group treated with a low-power gallium arsenide laser diode (660 nm) with an output dose of 2 J/cm2 for 7 minutes and 5 days in a row in addition to standard treatments, and another group that received common treatments with the same laser dose at the same time as the first group with a low-power diode laser (450 nm). Laboratory data and clinical criteria between groups were compared before and after the treatment. Results: An increase in O2 and partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) was significant in the two laser therapy groups (P < 0.05). In addition, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) decreased significantly in the blue laser group (mean difference = -1.44 ± 12.72). The COP score was reduced in all groups; however, only in the blue laser group the reduction in COP score was significant (P < 0.05). In the blue laser group, the COP score before and after the treatment was reduced. Conclusions: The use of an intravenous laser with red and blue wavelength with an output dose of 2 J/cm2 for 7 minutes and 5 days in a row, in addition to standard treatments, showed the improvement of oxygenation (O2 and PO2 in arterial blood gas [ABG]) and the reduction of inflammatory factors (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] and C-reactive protein [CRP]) and COP scores. However, further extensive studies are needed to prove the therapeutic effects of intravenous lasers, along with the usual treatments for COVID-19.