What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 36 patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on peripheral inflammatory markers.
What They Found
After a median of 12 HBOT sessions, the HBOT group showed a 31.78% increase in lymphocyte count (Δ = +0.41 × 10^9/L, p < 0.001) compared to the control group. This group also experienced significant reductions in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) by 26.92% (Δ = -0.63, p < 0.001) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) by 20.31% (Δ = -25.56, p < 0.001).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) could potentially serve as an additional treatment to help rebalance the immune system. This may lead to reduced inflammation and improved immune modulation, especially for those with significant inflammatory burden.
Canadian Relevance
This study does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The retrospective nature of this study and its small sample size limit the generalizability of the findings, and larger prospective studies are needed to confirm long-term efficacy.