Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and degenerative neurological illness with no cure. It has been suggested that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO(2)T) may slow or reverse the progress of the disease. This article summarizes the clinical evidence for the use of HBO(2)T in the treatment of MS. We conducted a literature review focused on the interaction of hyperbaric oxygenation and MS. In particular, we appraised the clinical data regarding treatment and performed a meta-analysis of the randomized evidence using the methodology of the Cochrane Collaboration. We found 12 randomized studies in the area, all of which were performed between 1983 and 1987. A meta-analysis of this evidence suggests there is no clinically significant benefit from the administration of HBO(2)T. The great majority of randomized trials investigated a course of 20 treatments at pressures between 1.75ATA and 2.5ATA daily for 60-120 min over 4 weeks against a placebo regimen. None have tested the efficacy of HBO(2)T against alternative current best practice. No plausible benefit of HBO(2)T on the clinical course of MS was identified in this review. It remains possible that HBO(2)T is effective in a subgroup of individuals not clearly identified in the trials to date, but any benefit is unlikely to be of great clinical significance. There is some case for further human trials in selected subgroups and for prolonged courses of HBO(2)T at modest pressures, but the case is not strong. At this time, the routine treatment of MS with HBO(2)T is not recommended.

Neuroinflammation and demyelination from the point of nitrosative stress as a new target for neuroprotection

“…After the exposure to hyperbaric oxygen, MS patients showed a larger SOD activity in erythrocytes, which increased their total antioxidative potential. The authors found an explanation for this state in the fact that the conditions of exposure to hyperbaric oxygen greatly intensify O 2 production, which stimulates SOD expression and thereby its antioxidative potential (Bennett and Heard, 2010;Petratos et al, 2010). ONOO -realizes the key role in linking oxidative and nitrosative stress in neuroinflammation.…”

Complementary and alternative treatments

“…Much of the initial interest in HBO and MS was generated by a 1983 study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which reported that HBO produced therapeutic effects in MS [25]. However, multiple subsequent trials did not generally find clinically meaningful treatment effects, and several independent reviews of the published clinical trials of HBO and MS conclude that HBO does not produce consistent therapeutic effects and that HBO should not be used as a therapy for MS [26][27][28]. HBO is generally well tolerated, but it may produce visual symptoms.…”

The effect of whole-body, repetitive, inhomogeneous static magnetic field-exposure on the symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice

“…Alternative and complementary methods suggest diet for MS management [5], use of cannabis for symptom control [6], or hyperbaric oxygenation [7], which latter proved to be ineffective and was not recommended as a further therapy option. Moreover, results have been reported with the possible use of pulsed electromagnetic field [8,9].…”