Effects of intravenous laser irradiation on viral load and T lymphocytes in people living with HIV/AIDS.
Fabiana Tomé Ramos, Maria Cecília Yoshioka Lobo, Hélio Amante Miot and 2 others
PMID 40920044WHAT IT FOUND
Adding laser irradiation to HIV antiretroviral therapy did not lower viral load or raise T-cell counts more than control.
The trial stopped early because it was not expected to meet its goal.
Key findings
01There were no significant differences between ILIB and control in LT-CD4+, LT-CD8+ or viral load after treatment.
02The trial stopped early for futility because the ILIB group did not show the planned 0.5 log viral load reduction.
03Both groups reduced viral load, with 40% of control participants and 61.5% of ILIB participants reaching undetectable viral load, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.449).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 28 participants were included, and the trial stopped early at interim analysis for futility. The schedule required 10 consecutive daily sessions, a 20-day break and another 10 sessions, which made recruitment and participation difficult. Participants were from a public infectious disease outpatient service and had low income and low education, so results may not apply to other HIV care settings. People with detectable viral load may have poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy, which can affect viral load and immune outcomes. Infection symptoms, recent vaccination and menstrual cycle were not assessed consistently, which may confound T-cell counts. The protocol was not standardized by body type, and dosimetry guidance is lacking.
Declared interests
The device was donated, and the supporting company did not interfere with the results.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the higher proportion of undetectable viral load in the ILIB group as evidence that ILIB works. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.449), and the trial stopped early for futility.