Use of the MLS^® Laser Therapy in the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report

L. Cibulka, V. Petrtýlová
Energy For Health [21], 2021

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) is a viral disease caused by the infection of an RNA virus, SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2). Since the first cases in Wuhan at the end of 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly to many countries around the world causing a global health emergency. Indeed, its high speed of propagation and the various forms of contamination led the World Health Organization to declare a pandemic on March 11th, 2020[1]. 
Most COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic or show mild symptoms, such as cough, fever, anosmia and ageusia: in these instances, patients usually do not need hospitalization[2]. However, the outcome of COVID-19 is often unpredictable, especially in elderly patients or patients who present comorbidities (obesity[3] or diabetes[4], for example). Typically, the longer the symptoms persist, the greater the risk of developing a more severe form of COVID-19, which could lead to hospitalization, invasive mechanical ventilation and, consequently, admission to intensive care units. Common complications include cardiovascular events, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and a condition of excessive inflammation referred to as a "cytokine storm”[5,6,7]. Since 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 infection and its consequences has led to the death of more than 3,9 million of people, to hospital overcrowding, to increased costs for national health systems and to a critical condition not only in the medical environment, but also in the social, economic, and cultural fields.
Since SARS-CoV-2 activates alveolar macrophages and neutrophils causing inflammation and vascular permeability, one of the most problematic effects of COVID-19 infection is the excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can damage the lung structure and can also spread to other organs, damaging them[8]. Therefore, it seems crucial to find a targeted therapy able to modulate the immune system and control inflammation. Currently, the most common protocols for treating COVID-19 involve different types of drugs and different strategies (Hydroxychloroquine, antivirals such as Remdesivir, or immunomodulatory therapies with interferon, e.g.). Numerous clinical trials are underway, but so far, no therapy has been shown to be targeted and fully effective against the symptoms caused by the virus infection[9]. 
An emerging strategy that could help modulating the inflammatory response in COVID-19 patients is photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT). It is an adjunctive therapy already used in various fields, such as wound healing[10], musculoskeletal pain[11], asthma[12], etc… where it has already proven to exert a significant anti-inflammatory action. PBMT involves the use of non-ionizing, non-thermal light sources in the visible and infrared spectra (400-1000 nm) that are absorbed by intracellular chromophores and promote a cascade of intracellular reactions promoting the healing process in the tissue[13]. There are various recent studies and systematic reviews that show the beneficial effect of PBMT in the treatment of COVID-19 patients[14,15,16]. Moreover, PBMT is a non-pharmacological, non-invasive and inexpensive therapy and has not shown adverse side effects. 
This case report describes the application of a Multiwave Locked System (MLS^®) laser in the management of a COVID-19 patient.