Background: Low energy laser irradiation (LELI) described as helpful adjuvant treament for tuberculosis in number of studies.

Objectives: To find and systematically review results of relevant studies

Methods: Search strategy: Cochrane Library
for Winter 2000 and Medline since 1964 was searched for all publications related to laser* and tuberculos*; titles and abstracts found were scanned and all relevant original articles and reviews evaluated by one reviewer; all related references from publications were evaluated by the same reviewer. Collections of publications of physicians-laser specialists were checked. Selection criteria: All human subject trials were evaluated for the analysis, while only controlled trials are reviewed and described. Data Collection & analysis: Data were extracted by reviewer. Thirteen authors were sent letters of enquiry for additional information, and one provided information. Meta analysis was not done because of differences in study design, patients' characteristics and the modes of intervention.

Results: There is no one methodologically sound randomised controlled trial of the LELI for tuberculosis. 13 controlled trials were excluded because of non-comparable control and intervention groups and unclear outcomes description. Three small controlled trials included in the analysis. Results of these trials support claims of effectiveness of LELI, but could not be used because of possible misrepresentation of results. Conclusion: There is no reliable evidence that LELI is effective in treatment of tuberculosis