Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Treatment for Breast-Feeding Women With Painful Nipple Lesions

NCT ID: NCT04259619

Last Updated: 2024-05-30

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

194 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-03-02

Study Completion Date

2026-07-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Around 30 to 90 percent of all breastfeeding women suffer from painful and sore nipple lesions. Reasons for these lesions are still not completely clarified. Nevertheless, irrespective of the underlying cause, these painful nipple lesions lead to an early stop of breastfeeding, which has negative consequences for the infant as well as for the mother. Even if the painful nipple lesions do not lead to a weaning of the baby, they cause an increased psychological distress for the mother and therefore may negatively influence the mother-child relationship.

Since breastfeeding is the natural and best possible type of nutrition for healthy, full term babies problems causing an early stop of breastfeeding should be addressed.

The low-level laser therapy (LLLT) represents a simple and low risk treatment to change (reduce) pain and accelerate wound healing. It is supposed to improve tissue organization and should have a positive anti-inflammatory and immune modulating effect. Therefore, this therapy is more and more frequently used to also treat painful nipple lesions, although hardly any studies have been conducted. Furthermore, in women with too little mother milk, the LLLT seems to increase the milk production.

The aim of this study is to investigate the positive effects of LLLT on painful and sore nipple lesions. This would justify a LLLT for women with painful nipple lesions on a wider scale, with the overall goal to reduce early stopping of breastfeeding and therefore having a positive impact on both, the child's health as well as the mother's wellbeing.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

This study is conducted at the department of obstetrics of the University hospital of Zurich. 194 breastfeeding or expressing participants with sore and painful nipple lesions who fulfill the inclusion criteria are included in this study. If the participant meets any exclusion criteria she is excluded from this study. After being enrolled in the study, the participant is randomized to get either 3 low-level laser therapy (LLLT) treatments or 3 placebo treatments within 1 to 3 days.

Women having signed the declaration of consent and fulfill all inclusion criteria are then examined by a breastfeeding consultant. During this examination nipple lesions are classified into four different stages, causes for the lesions are evaluated and the nipple form is recorded. A swab of the milk is taken to rule out a pathogenetic colonization with germs. Then a blood sample is collected to analyze inflammatory parameters (C-reactive protein (CRP), leucocyte (Lc)), inflammation modulators (interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)) and the lactating hormone (prolactin). The taking of blood is repeated at the end of the third therapy. In the beginning and at the end of the last treatment, nipple lesions are classified and photographically documented. Specific instructions regarding the correct positioning and removal of the baby at the breast as well as breastfeeding positions are given to the women before starting the treatment. Women then breastfeed their baby once before and once after the entire therapy. Two hours after breastfeeding, the amount of milk is being measured after 15 minutes of pumping. Additionally, the sensation of pain is evaluated on the basis of a visual analog scale (VAS) from 1-10 and the satisfaction of the treatment is recorded before and after every single treatment. At the end of the last therapy, a final examination is conducted.

For the statistical analysis of the primary and secondary endpoints a proportional odds model is used.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Nipple Lesions

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

prospective, randomized double-blinded study
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators
The low-level laser and the placebo-laser cannot be differentiated visually. The lasers are marked with the names "Geraet1" and "Geraet2". The therapy is carried out identical in the way of application, duration and preventive measures. After the participant is randomized, the study nurse hands out the corresponding laser for the therapy.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Low-Level Laser Therapy

During 2-3 days this group receives three low-level laser therapy (LLLT) treatments with the Soft Power Laser carried out by a specially trained breastfeeding consultant.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Low-Level Laser Therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

The low-level laser emits monochromatic, coherent, bundled laser light. In each therapy a energy dose of 2-4 Joul (J) / centimeter (cm)\^2 is applied over a duration of about 30 seconds using level 1 (20 percent of maximum output) of the 350 milliwatt (mW) device.

Placebo Therapy

During 2-3 days this group receives three placebo treatments with an identically looking laser, which in contrast submits only red colored light. The therapy is also carried out by a specially trained breastfeeding consultant.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo Therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

The intervention is conducted identically to the low-level laser therapy but the placebo laser that is used emits only red light that is polychromatic, leading to a reduction in energy being emitted and therewith to no or a smaller effect.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Low-Level Laser Therapy

The low-level laser emits monochromatic, coherent, bundled laser light. In each therapy a energy dose of 2-4 Joul (J) / centimeter (cm)\^2 is applied over a duration of about 30 seconds using level 1 (20 percent of maximum output) of the 350 milliwatt (mW) device.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Placebo Therapy

The intervention is conducted identically to the low-level laser therapy but the placebo laser that is used emits only red light that is polychromatic, leading to a reduction in energy being emitted and therewith to no or a smaller effect.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* signed written informed consent form
* breast-feeding or pumping participant with painful nipple lesions
* 18 years or older

Exclusion Criteria

* contraindication for the class of medical device used or intervention being performed e.g.

known hypersensitivity or allergy against the medical device or class of medical device

* missing willingness to take part in the study
* hepatitis B or C positive
* human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive
* intake of immunosuppressive drugs
* epilepsy
* dark or tattooed skin
* lacking German or English skills
* mamma carcinoma in past medical history
* severe infection (C-reactive protein (CRP) \>200mg/l; leucocytes \>20000/ul)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

University of Zurich

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Nicole Ochsenbein-Kölble, Prof.Dr.med.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

leading physician

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

University Hospital Zurich

Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Switzerland

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Nicole Ochsenbein-Kölble, Prof.Dr.med.

Role: CONTACT

+41 79 921 52 28

Franziska Krähenmann, Dr.med.

Role: CONTACT

+41 79 921 52 25

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Nicole Ochsenbein

Role: primary

+41 79 921 52 28

Julia Zepf

Role: backup

+41 76 323 96 09

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

2019-01374

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.