OBJECTIVE

Low-level laser irradiation at certain fluences and wavelengths can enhance the release of growth factors from fibroblasts and stimulate cell proliferation in vitro. We evaluated whether low-level laser irradiation can improve wound healing in diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

Genetically diabetic mice (C57BL/Ksj/db/db) were used as the animal model for this wound healing study. The experimental animals were divided among four groups: negative control, positive control (topical basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF] on wound), laser therapy group; and a combination group of laser therapy and topical bFGF. An argon dye laser (Lexel Auora Model 600) at a wavelength of 630 nm and an output of 20 m W/cm2 was used as the light source. The speed of wound closure and histological evaluation were used to analyze the experimental results.

RESULTS

Laser irradiation enhanced the percentage of wound closure over time as compared to the negative control group (58.4 +/- 2.6 vs. 40.8 +/- 3.4 at day 10 and 95.7 +/- 2 vs. 82.3 +/- 3.6 at day 20, P < .01). Histological evaluation showed that laser irradiation improved wound epithelialization, cellular content, granulation tissue formation, and collagen deposition in laser-treated wounds as compared to the negative control group (6.4 +/- 0.16 vs. 3.8 +/- 0.13 at day 10 and 12 +/- 0.21 vs. 8.2 +/- 0.31, P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study of laser biostimulation on wound healing in diabetic mice suggests that such therapy may be of great benefit in the treatment of chronic wounds that occur as a complication of diabetes mellitus.