Photobiomodulation minimizes taste changes during hematopoietic cell transplantation: A randomized clinical trial

• Published in: Journal of biophotonics Vol. 17; no. 7; pp. e202400095 - n/a
• Main Authors: Ferreira, Mariana Henriques, Bezinelli, Letícia Mello, Paula Eduardo, Fernanda, Pereira, Andrea Z., Hamerschlak, Nelson, Corrêa, Luciana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA 01-07-2024; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Acuity; Adult; Aged; Atrophy; Clinical trials; Female; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Hematopoietic stem cells; Humans; Leukocytes (neutrophilic); Low-Level Light Therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Neutropenia; Papillae; Photobiomodulation therapy; Salty taste; Sour taste; Stem cell transplantation; Taste; Taste - radiation effects; Taste acuity; Taste Buds - radiation effects; taste disorder; Taste Disorders - etiology; Tongue; Tongue - pathology; Tongue - radiation effects; Transplantation; Young Adult; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Photobiomodulation therapy; taste disorder; tongue
• ISSN: 1864-063X; 1864-0648; 1864-0648
• DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202400095

Prevention and treatment protocols for taste changes observed during hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are not well‐established. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) in relieving taste changes and preventing lingual papillae atrophy. HCT patients received PBM (n = 42) on the tongue dorsum using an InGaAIP laser (660 nm, 100 mW, 1.1 W/cm2, 8.8 J/cm2). During the HCT conditioning (T0), severe neutropenia (T1), and after neutrophil engraftment (T2), taste acuity for sweet, bitter, sour, and salty solutions, and clinical appearance of lingual papillae were compared with those of a placebo group (n = 43). PBM significantly reduced hypogeusia, ageusia, and parageusia at T1 and T2, and also successfully prevented papillae atrophy during all the analyzed HCT periods. In conclusion, PBM enhanced taste acuity during HCT. The decrease in papillae atrophy indicated a potential regenerative effect of this therapy on tongue mucosa.
Photobiomodulation significantly reduced hypogeusia, ageusia, and parageusia during hematopoietic cell transplantation, especially for bitter, sour, and salty flavors at low concentrations. PBM also successfully prevented lingual papillae atrophy during all the analyzed transplantation periods.