Influence of intravenous laser blood irradiation on lymphovenous outflow and the state of humoral and cellular immunity in patients with postthrombophlebitic disease of the lower extremities

Abstract

Post-thrombophlebitis of lower extremities occurs in 14–29 % of cases and develops within the fi rst two years after the episode of deep vein thrombosis of lower extremities in 20–50 % of patients. Objective: to apply intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI) for optimizing outcomes in patients with post-thrombophlebitic disease of their lower extremities. Materials and methods. 52 patients were treated with ILBI. They were randomized into two groups by the following clinical criteria: stage of occlusion – 18 patients (Group 1) and stage of recanalization – 34 patients (Group 2). ILBI course included 7 sessions: irradiation power – 3–15 mW, pulse frequency – 80–3000 Hz, exposure time – 5–15 minutes. Parameters of venous outfl ow and inguinal lymph nodes were monitored by ultrasound examination. Radial immunodiffusion was used to determine levels of IgG, IgM and IgA in blood plasma and serum; turbidimetry – to determine immune complexes; T-lymphocytes – by the receptors to erythrocytes. B-lymphocyte level was monitored with luminescence-serological and complementary rosette formation techniques. Results and discussion. A statistically signifi cant increase in linear and volumetric blood fl ow in great vessels was revealed in both groups. In Group 1, linear blood fl ow in the great saphenous vein increased by 5.2 %; volumetric blood fl ow increased up to 113.0 ± 2.14 mL/min (p < 0.01). In Group 2, volumetric blood fl ow slowed down by 4.1 %. Lymph nodes contracted statistically signifi cantly; the medullary layer narrowed up to 0.32 ± 0.05 cm (p < 0.05), level of IgG, IgM and CIC decreased; number of T-lymphocytes increased up to 60.2 ± 1.7 % (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The revealed effects of intravenous laser blood irradiation at the venous outfl ow, lymph nodes and humoral and cellular immunity in patients with post-thrombophlebitic disease of lower extremities give a reason to recommend the implementation of the discussed technique into a wide clinical practice.