Low-Level Laser Therapy in Post-Herpetic Neuralgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Keywords:
Post-herpetic neuralgia, Low-Level Laser Therapy, Herpes Zoster, Systematic review, Meta-analysisAbstract
Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a chronic neuropathic pain condition following herpes zoster that remains challenging to manage effectively with conventional pharmacological therapies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and pain reduction in patients with PHN. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and ProQuest databases up to February 10, 2025, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies meeting predefined PICO criteria and reporting pre- and post-treatment pain outcomes using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were included. A total of six studies were analyzed using a random-effects model. Quantitative synthesis focused on within-group changes in pain intensity following LLLT intervention. The pooled meta-analysis demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity after LLLT administration, with a mean difference of 6.10 points on the VAS scale (95% CI: 5.16–7.04; p < 0.001). Substantial heterogeneity was observed among studies (I² = 93%), likely related to variations in study design, patient characteristics, and intervention protocols. Methodological quality assessment using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Before-After (Pre-Post) Studies indicated that most included studies were of fair to good quality. Overall, LLLT was associated with clinically meaningful reductions in pain intensity in patients with PHN and may represent a promising non-invasive adjunctive intervention. However, further large-scale randomized controlled trials with standardized treatment protocols are needed to strengthen the current evidence base.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Jeanette Rachel Audrey Leo, Natalia Wahyudi, Desidera Husadani, Antoni Miftah, Kho Jesselyne Aurelia Santoso, Joseph Jonathan Timothy Leo, James Jeremia Jason2 (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
