Low-level laser therapy: an efficient supplement to treatments of vulvar Lichen sclerosus to improve quality of life

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flowchart.

Table 1. Characteristics of cohort and status at initiation of study. N = 94.

		Biopsy
	Total	Yes	No	p value
Characteristics
Age, median (IQR)	62 (53–69)	62 (55.5–69)	61 (50–70)	NS #
BMI, median (IQR)	26 (24–30)	26 (23–29)	27 (25–35)	0.057 #
ASA score, median (IQR)	2 (1–2)	2 (1–2)	2 (1–2)	NS #
Years with disease, median (IQR)	3 (2–7)	5 (2–8)	3 (2–4)	0.006 #
Diagnostic delay, years, median (IQR)	2 (0–8)	2 (0–9)	1 (0–5)	NS #
Smoking, % (n/N)	9.6 (9/94)	11.5 (7/61)	6.1 (2/33)	NS §
Alcohol, % (n/N)	46.8 (36/77)	45.8 (22/48)	48.3 (14/29)	NS §
Diabetes, % (n/N)	10.6 (10/94)	8.2 (5/61)	15.2 (5/33)	NS §
Metabolic disease, % (n/N)	13.8 (13/94)	16.4 (10/61)	9.1 (3/33)	NS §
Symptoms
Burning pain, % (n/N)	62.8 (59/94)	63.9 (39/61)	60.6 (20/33)	NS §
Itching, % (n/N)	64.9 (61/94)	63.9 (39/61)	66.7 (22/33)	NS §
Fissures, % (n/N)	43.6 (41/94)	47.5 (29/61)	36.4 (12/33)	NS §
Pain, % (n/N)	43.6 (41/94)	47.5 (29/61)	36.4 (12/33)	NS §
Other, % (n/N)	21.3 (20/94)	23.0 (14/61)	18.2 (6/33)	NS §
Treatment
Weekly frequency, median (IQR)	4 (2–5)	4 (2–5)	4 (2–5)	NS #
Lotion, % (n/N)	88.3 (83/94)	88.5 (54/61)	87.9 (29/33)	NS §

IQR = Inter-Quartile Range, NS = Not statistically significant, BMI = body mass index, ASA = American Society of Anaesthesiologists.

^# Mann-Whitney U test.

^§ Chi-square test.

Figure 2. A DoloTest profile.

Figure 3. DoloTest parametres median scores before and after using laser therapy. N = 94.

Table 2. DoloTest parametres median scores (and IQR) before and after using laser therapy. N = 94.

	Scores
	Before	After	p value#
Pain	22 (5–47)	4 (1–20)	<0.001
Problems with light physical activity	3 (1–10)	2 (1–5)	0.026
Problems with more strenuous physical activity	12 (2–37)	2 (1–5)	<0.001
Problems at work	1 (0–3)	0 (0–2)	0.314
Reduced energy and physical strength	6 (1–29)	2 (1–4)	<0.001
Low spirit	20 (5–48)	4 (1–15)	<0.001
Reduced social life	3 (1–15)	2 (1–4)	0.018
Problems sleeping	9 (2–40)	2 (1–7)	<0.001
Total	120 (48–192)	32 (12–72)	<0.001

IQR = Inter-Quartile Range NS = Not statistically significant.

^# Mann-Whitney U test.

Table 3. Total DoloTest median score (and IQR) before and after using laser therapy with and without characteristic. N = 94.

	Scores
	Before	After	p value#
Older than 62	114 (46–184)	34 (9–74)	<0.001
Not	161 (56–248)	30 (15–73)	<0.001
BMI 30 and higher	108 (44–266)	35 (14–116)	0.022
Not	120 (48–186)	37 (11–68)	<0.001
ASA score 2 and higher	152 (47–206)	33 (11–81)	<0.001
Not	99 (52–180)	30 (15–66)	<0.001
Smoking	183 (59–275)	58 (23–160)	0.094
Not	117 (47–189)	30 (11–68)	<0.001
Alcohol	103 (27–181)	40 (12–75)	0.004
Not	117 (60–248)	26 (8–81)	<0.001
Years with disease more than 3	154 (56–221)	29 (11–90)	<0.001
Not	106 (46–184)	35 (13–70)	<0.001
Diagnostic delay of more than 2 years	154 (58–189)	26 (7–66)	<0.001
Not	106 (43–199)	36 (16–85)	0.001
Diabetes and/or metabolic disease	119 (24–207)	27 (10–69)	0.018
Not	130 (49–195)	35 (15–75)	<0.001
Diagnosis by biopsy	101 (47–186)	24 (8.68)	<0.001
Not	169 (55–223)	46 (15–78)	<0.001
Weekly steroid treatments > 4	162 (48–243)	34 (10–94)	<0.001
Not	108 (50–186)	30 (13–60)	<0.001

IQR = Inter-Quartile Range NS = Not statistically significant.

^# Mann-Whitney U test.

Data availability statement

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.