HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY AND CROHN’S DISEASE
Johnson KE,1 Hoggard ML1 and Shirachi DY1, 2
1Chico Hyperbaric Center, Chico, CA 95926, USA and 2Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, T. J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211.
INTRODUCTION
Crohn’s disease is marked by an abnormal immune response that results in a chronic recurrent inflammation of the intestinal lining. To date there is no effective curative treatment and relapses are frequent. It had been reported in the literature that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) was effective in treating Crohn’s disease, which was severe or was refractory to treatment (1).
A 50 year old male patient diagnosed with Crohn’s disease was referred to our Center by his gastroenterologist after he became refractory to different treatments, including infliximab, a TNF-a antagonist. In addition the patient previously had undergone a J pouch procedure. We now report on the effect of HBO therapy in this patient.
METHODS
The patient underwent a physical examination and was cleared for HBO therapy by the Medical Director of our Center who is board certified in Hyperbaric Medicine and in Family Practice. The infliximab therapy previously prescribed was discontinued 8 weeks prior to the HBO treatment. The patient received 42 treatments at 2.5 ATA for 90 minutes. All protocols were followed according to the Declaration of Helsinki and the patient signed an informed consent form detailing the treatment plan, possible risks of HBO and his patient rights. Photomicrographs were taken to determine the state of his clinical condition before and after HBO treatment via video colonoscope.
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