The Effect of Intravascular Laser Irradiation of Blood in Functional Outcomes of Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Pilot Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of intravenous laser irradiation of blood (ILIB) therapy as an adjunct treatment for patients with ischemic stroke. Background: Despite the diverse medical applications of ILIB, there was no strong evidence on the efficacy of ILIB for improving the clinical outcomes of ischemic stroke. Methods: A total of 22 patients with ischemic stroke were randomly assigned to either the ILIB or the control group. The ILIB group received intravenous laser therapy, whereas the control group received the same intervention but without the output power. The after outcome measures were assessed at baseline and at 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months post intervention: National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score, modified Rankin Scale score, Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) score, Fugl-Meyer assessment-Motor Function (FMA-MF) score, and 6-minute walking test (6-MWT) performance. Results: In total, 10 and 12 participants were randomized to the ILIB and control groups, respectively. Compared with the control group, the ILIB group showed significantly better SIS scores at the 3-month follow-up ( p = 0.019), significantly higher FMA-MF scores at the 3-day and 3-month follow-ups ( p = 0.003 and p = 0.022), and significantly better 6-MWT performance at the 3-day follow-up ( p = 0.018). Conclusions: ILIB therapy provided short-term improvements in functional outcomes, including SIS, FMA-MF scores, and 6-MWT, in patients with ischemic stroke.