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The content and information provided within this site is for informational and educational purposes only. Consult a doctor before pursuing any form of therapy, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. The Information provided within this site is not to be considered Medical Advice. In Full Support of the F.D.A., Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is considered Investigational, Experimental, or Off Label.

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HBOT for Crohn's Disease

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT) is used to increase the relative oxygen tension within the tissue. This increased oxygen environment is lethal to anaerobic bacteria. Increased oxygen tension can also improve leukocyte bactericidal activity and optimize fibroblast proliferation.[1] The initial articles on the application of HBOT in this disease setting were primarily individual case reports.[2-4]

Since these initial reports, 2 small case series have been published. Lavy and associates[5] treated 10 patients with refractory perianal Crohn's disease with HBOT. Eight of these 10 patients improved. However, 5 of the 8 patients who responded needed more than one course of therapy. The HBOT was administered in six 90-minute sessions each week, using 100% oxygen at 2.5 atmospheres of pressure. There were no associated complications. Colombel and coworkers[6] achieved a 60% response rate using a similar HBOT protocol in 10 patients with refractory perianal Crohn's disease. In this study, 2 patients had to discontinue therapy because of adverse effects, which included bilateral tympanic perforation and psychological difficulties.

  1. Noyer CM, Brandt LJ. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for perineal Crohn's disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 1999;94:318-321. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10022622&dopt=Abstract
  2. Brady CED, Cooley BJ, Davis JC. Healing of severe perineal and cutaneous Crohn's disease with hyperbaric oxygen. Gastroenterology. 1989;97:756-760. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2753335&dopt=Abstract
  3. Brady CED. Hyperbaric oxygen and perineal Crohn's disease: a follow-up [letter]. Gastroenterology. 1993;105:1264.
  4. Nelson EW Jr, Bright DE, Villar LF. Closure of refractory perineal Crohn's lesion: integration of hyperbaric oxygen into case management. Dig Dis Sci. 1990;35:1561-1565. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2253542&dopt=Abstract
  5. Lavy A, Weisz G, Adir Y, Ramon Y, Melamed Y, Eidelman S. Hyperbaric oxygen for perianal Crohn's disease. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1994;19:202-205. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7806829&dopt=Abstract
  6. Colombel JF, Mathieu D, Bouault JM, et al. Hyperbaric oxygenation in severe perineal Crohn's disease. Dis Colon Rectum. 1995;38:609-614. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7774472&dopt=Abstract
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