ABSTRACT
Background: Effectiveness of low level nitrogen laser therapy along with antitubercular treatment (ATT) in cases of treatment failure and drug resistant tubercular lymphadenopathy, sinuses and cold abscess. Methods: In a double-blind randomized controlled trial of LLLT ,104 patients assigned to either the low level nitrogen laser therapy along with ATT ( LLLT group) (n =54) or ATT only(Chemotherapy group)(n=50). Both groups were treated two times per week for five weeks. Those in the treatment group received pulse nitrogen laser with a pulse duration of seven nanosecond, wave length 337 nanometer and average power output of 5 mW whereas those in the control group were treated with sham laser. The primary outcome measure was bacteriological conversion and the secondary outcome measures were decrease in size of lesion and the clinical improvement. Results: Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) smear, AFB culture and Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) conversion rate at five weeks (after 10 sittings of laser) were 49.15%( Fishers P exact test-p= 0.015), 60%, 44.44% (Fishers P exact test-p= 0.048 ) in LLLT group as compared to 11.86%,20%,17.77% in chemotherapy group. Average percentage reduction in the size of gland at 5 weeks was 70.67% (p value 0.01) as compared to 54.81 in chemotherapy group. Average time taken for closure of sinuses was 11.03 weeks in LLLT group as compared to 26 weeks in chemotherapy group. The follow up was conducted for two years. Conclusion: Low level nitrogen laser therapy can be used as an adjunctive therapy along with antitubercular drugs in cases not responding and drug resistant tubercular lymphadenopathy, sinuses and cold abscess.
ABSTRACT
Forty-four cases of tubercular lymphadenopathy and sinuses, who were taking anti-tubercular treatment for more than 6 months and not responding to it, were randomly selected in this study. Overall cure rate in cases of lymphadenopathy was 93.99% , sinus 77.77% and cold abscess 100%. Mean age of the patients was 30.13 (Male: female1:4.5). Most common site of lymphadenopathy was cervical , smear was positive in 19(43.18%) cases and culture in 25(56.81%) cases. Low Level Nitrogen Laser Therapy may be used as an adjuvant to anti-tubercular drugs in cases of chronic non-responding tubercular lymphadenopathy and sinuses.
ABSTRACT
Aim: In this longitudinal study, the Role of Low Level Laser Therapy in Chronic Drug Resistant pulmonary tuberculosis has been studied for a period of 10 years from 1995 to 2004 and follow up was done for a period of 3 years. Material and Methods: 61 patients in Nitrogen Laser Therapy group (LLLT Group) and 61 were kept as control group. The aim of study was to describe the efficacy and safety of low level nitrogen laser therapy in management of chronic drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis. All the patients, included in this study, had already taken anti-tubercular drugs for more than one year and were still sputum smear and culture positive. Results: Among LLLT group, 44 (72.13%) patients became sputum smear and culture negative for MTB (Mycobacterium Tuberculosis) as compared to 26 (42.62%) in control group. Of the 44 patients, 22(50%) converted within first month. Conclusion: Low Level Nitrogen Laser Therapy may be used as an adjuvant to anti-tubercular drugs in cases of chronic drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis.