Oxidant and Antioxidant Status of Patients with Chronic Leg Ulcer Before and After Low Intensity Laser Therapy

摘要

Low level (intensity) Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been shown to have biostimulatory effects on wounds however, the precise mechanism remains unclear. Recently antioxidants have been reported to play a significant role in the wound healing process. Twenty two patients suffering from chronic leg ulcers were exposed to three sessions per week of 632.8 nm He-Ne laser irradiation at energy density of 0.5-2 J cm~(-2). Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured in serum, while protein carbonyls (PC), DNA-fragmentation, and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes were measured in the tissue biopsies of these patients before and after the 8th session of laser irradiation during the course of treatment of chronic leg ulcer. Results showed that laser irradiation decreased the ulcer size in 63% of the treated patients and 34% exhibited complete recovery. Biochemical investigations revealed an increase in the levels of serum GPX, SOD and CAT, however, serum MDA was decreased. Positive correlations between the rate of ulcer healing and decrease of serum MDA/S0D, MDA/GPX and MDA/CAT ratios respectively were observed. This study shows that low intensity laser therapy is of great benefit in the treatment of chronic leg ulcers and sheds light on the oxidant/ antioxidant status as a possible mechanism of enhancing ulcer healing whilst using this clinical modality.