Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery Volume 38, Number 7, 2020 ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Pp. 409–412 DOI: 10.1089/photob.2019.4740
Impact of Photobiomodulation on T3/T4 Ratio and Quality of Life in Hashimoto Thyroiditis
Candas Ercetin, MD,1 Nuri Alper Sahbaz, MD,2 Sami Acar, MD,3 Firat Tutal, MD,4 and Yesim Erbil, MD5
Abstract
Objective and background: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is both a B cell- and T cell-mediated, organ-specific autoimmune disease. No current treatment for underlying pathological mechanisms is available for HT and once diagnosed it requires long-term levothyroxine (LT4) treatment in most patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) on HT patients regarding thyroid functions, thyroid autoantibody levels, and decrease in hormone replacement needs.
Methods: A total of 350 patients, who were diagnosed with Hashimoto‘s thyroiditis, were included in our study. Patients were classified into two groups. Group 1 (n =210) received PBM and dietary supplementation such as vitamin D, iron, and selenium. Group 2 (n= 140) received dietary supplements only. Patients’ needs for LT4 replacement levels, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and TSH levels, T3/T4 ratio, and thyroid autoantibody levels were evaluated.
Results: As we compare both groups, the increase in T3 levels and T3/T4 ratio was markedly superior in Group 1 ( p = 0.0001). The decrease in thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO Ab) levels was also significantly different between both groups ( p = 0.0001). Hormone replacement needs were also significantly decreased in Group 1 compared with Group 2 ( p = 0.03). Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is 70 times more effective in increasing T3/T4 ratio ( p = 0.001) and 15 times more effective in decreasing levothyroxine dosage.
Conclusions: Our results are encouraging and PBM seems to be very effective in increasing T3/T4 ratio and decreasing TPO Ab levels and weekly dosages of LT4 replacement therapy. Anti-inflammatory properties of PBM are greatly responsible for these changes and PBM causes major improvements in HT-related symptoms of the patient.
Keywords: photobiomodulation, Hashimoto thyroiditis, autoimmune thyroiditis
Photomedicine and Laser Surgery Volume 32, Number 8, 2014 ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Pp. 444–449 DOI: 10.1089/pho.2014
Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy on the Serum TGF-b1 Concentrations in Individuals with Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Danilo B. Ho¨fling, MD,1,2 Maria Cristina Chavantes, MD/PhD,2 Milena M. P. Acencio, MD,3 Giovanni G. Cerri, MD, PhD,1 Suemi Marui, MD, PhD,4 Elisabeth M. Yoshimura, PhD,5 and Maria Cristina Chammas, MD, PhD1
Abstract O
bjective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the serum concentration of transforming growth factor-b1 (TGF-b1) after low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with hypothyroidism resulting from chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT).
Background data: Certain data indicate that LLLT is effective in patients with hypothyroidism caused by CAT; however, the mechanisms of action of LLLT in thyroid tissue are unknown. Cytokines could play a role in the response to LLLT.
Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial included 43 patients with a history of levothyroxine therapy for CAT-induced hypothyroidism. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either 10 sessions of LLLT (830 nm, 50 mW output power, and 707 J/cm2 fluence; L group, n = 23) or 10 sessions of a placebo treatment (P group, n = 20) twice a week. Levothyroxine was maintained at the same dose during the entire study period. TGF-b1 was measured both pre-intervention and 30 days post-intervention in both groups. The differences were calculated between the TGF-b1 values observed 30 days post-intervention and the pre-intervention TGF-b1 values for each group (intragroup). Results: Comparing the differences in TGF-b1 levels between the L group (874.9 – 541.7 pg/mL) and the P group ( - 128.4 – 832.8 pg/mL) revealed that there was a statistically significant increase in TGF-b1 levels 30 days post-intervention in group L compared with the placebo group ( p = 0.0379).
Conclusions: This finding suggested that the significant increase in serum TGF-b1 levels in patients with CAT-induced hypothyroidism was associated with the thyroid LLLT procedure. Future studies of the effect of LLLT on TGF-b1 gene expression in thyroid tissue are necessary to confirm these findings.
