Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, Volume 27, Number 2, 2009
Photodynamic therapy may be effective as a treatment for Herpes Simplex Labialis
Juliana Marotti, D.D.S.,1 Ana CecÃlia Correa Aranha, D.D.S., Mrs C., Ph.D.,2, Carlos De Paula Eduardo, D.D.S., Mrs C., Ph.D.,2 and Martha Simões Ribeiro, Ph.D.3
Background and objectives: Herpes is a common infectious disease caused by human herpes viruses. Several treatments have been proposed, but none of them prevents the virus from being reactivated. This article describes the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat herpes lesions and reports four cases.
The methods: PDT was used as an adjuvant therapy to treat herpes labialis in four patients. A special type of 0.01% (m/V) methylene blue solution was applied to the vesicular stage of the herpes virus disease and the lesions were irradiated with laser energy (wavelength 660 nm, energy density 120 J/cm2, output power 40 mW, 2 min per point, 4.8 J energy/point, at four points). After 24 h, the patients returned and phototherapy was repeated with the same equipment, this time at 3.8 J/cm2 and 15 mW, with a total dose of 0.6 J. The same procedure was repeated 72 h and 1 wk later.
Results: Treatment with low-level laser therapy can be considered as an option in the treatment of herpes labialis, reducing the frequency of vesicle recurrences and offering comfort to patients. No significant acute side effects were observed and the lesions healed rapidly.
Conclusion: Treatment of herpes labialis with PDT was effective, had no side effects and, when combined with laser phototherapy, accelerated the healing process.
