Ozonated autohemotherapy is used as a complementary medical approach in the treatment of vascular disorders. One of the greatest problems concerning an application of ozone in medicine is its induction of oxidative stress. The standards of ozonotherapy were elaborated recently making this treatment useful and probably non toxic. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of ozonated autohemotherapy on the oxidative stress extent in hemodialyzed patients, known to be particularly exposed to generation and deleterious effects of free radicals. Twelve continuously hemodialyzed subjects with atherosclerotic ischemia of the lower limbs were examined in a prospective, controlled, single blind study. Autohemotherapy with blood exposure to oxygen served as a control. The protein and lipid peroxidation products, the reduced glutathione level in red blood cells and free hemoglobin plasma concentration were measured. The study showed that ozonated autohemotherapy with ozone concentration 50 μg/ml per gram of blood induced a significant decrease in glutathione level after 9 sessions of this procedure. Therapy did not cause either the enhancement of protein and lipid peroxidation, or erythrocytes damage. It seems likely that the antioxidant defense system, part of which is glutathione, neutralizes oxidative properties of ozone in this concentration and protects against oxidative cell damage.

Ozonated autohemotherapy is a controversial but successful method of treatment, used in particular in European countries. There are many fields in which medical ozone could be of value: treating different infections, immunodeficiency syndromes, neoplasms. Encouraging results have also been achieved in the treatment of atherosclerotic ischemia of the lower limbs. In this preliminary study, the influence of blood ozonation on the intensity of symptoms of ischemia of the lower extremities was analysed among dialysed patients with chronic renal failure. We examined 5 hemodialyzed patients and 7 patients treated with peritoneal dialysis immediately before and after 14 sessions of ozonated autohaemotherapy. Eleven patients (91.6%) reported a subjective decrease in perceived intensity of ischemic pains, or observed prolongation of intermittent claudication distance. During march tests performed on a treadmill, we found significant prolongation of intermittent claudication distance in all examined patients - 65.6% (mean value, p (< or =0.01). Patients treated with peritoneal dialysis achieved much greater improvement than did hemodialyzed patients (165% vs. 42%). We concluded that autohemotherapy with ozone, in a concentration of 34.4 mcg/ml of blood, is safe, easily applied and may be useful In the therapy of atherosclerotic ischemia of lower extremities among dialyzed patients. It could also be a complement to current treatment, especially in cases where the latter has failed.

Background Hemodialyzed patients are particularly exposed to the development of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Ozonotherapy is used as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of this atherosclerotic complication, but there are still no properly designed studies to show the clinical effectiveness of this approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of ozonated autohemotherapy on walking ability and the subjective clinical experience of hemodialyzed patients with peripheral arterial disease. Methods Ten subjects with intermittent claudication (Fontain II stage) received the cycle of ozonated autohemotherapy with ozone concentration of 50 μg/ml and the cycle of oxygen autohemotherapy as a control in a cross-over, single-blind manner. Pain-free distance and maximal walking distance were measured using a standardized march test on a treadmill. The efficacy of therapy was assessed subjectively by patients on a five-degree scale. Results Significant prolongation of maximal waking distance after ozonated autohemotherapy was found, as compared to the baseline (by 30.5%) and to the oxygen control (by 22.7%) (p<0.01 and p<0.03). There was also significant increase in pain-free distance after ozonated autohemotherapy, as compared to the baseline (by 71.7%) and to the oxygen control (by 62.8%) (p<0.02 and p<0.03 respectively). In a subjective assessment (questionnaires) 90% of patients reported clinical improvement relative to the baseline after ozonated autohemotherapy as compared to 40% after the oxygen-control treatment (p<0.025). Conclusion We demonstrated that ozonated autohemotherapy might prolong walking ability and attenuate subjective clinical signs of ischemia in patients with peripheral arterial disease treated regularly with hemodialysis.

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Background: ω–3 polyunsaturated acids therapy is efficient in primary IgA nephropathy. It is unknown whether doses of ω–3 smaller than those given previously are still effective. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of ω–3 therapy on renal vascular function in relation to proteinuria and urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). Methods: 20 IgA patients aged 36.5 ± 10.77 with creatinine clearance (Cr_cl) 105.71 ± 27.3 ml/min and proteinuria 3.31 ± 2.01 g/24 h were given orally 810 mg EPA and 540 mg DHA daily for 12 months. Before and at the end of the study, 24-hour proteinuria, serum homocysteine, and Cr_cl were measured. At the same time, renal vascular function was estimated as dopamine-induced glomerular filtration response (DIR). DIR was measured as: two 120-min lasting Cr_cl (before and during 2 µg/kg b.w./min i.v. dopamine). Results: The results obtained during follow-up were as follows (baseline vs. after therapy): DIR 14.9 ± 16.4 vs. 30.3 ± 14.3% (p < 0.01); urine protein 2.31 ± 2.01 vs. 1.31 ± 1.37 g/24 h (p < 0.01); (Cr_cl) 105.71 ± 27.3 vs. 103.9 ± 20.9 ml/min (n.s.); NAG 8.3 ± 1.8 vs. 6.0 ± 1.2 U/g_creat (p < 0.01), and homocysteine 16.2 ± 3.15 vs. 13.8 ± 2.6 µmol/l (p < 0.05). The only correlation found was linear correlation between basal DIR and DIR change (r = –0.570; p < 0.010) and basal NAG (r = –0.460; p < 0.50). Conclusions: ω–3 supplementation is associated with the improvement of both renal vascular function and tubule function.