What Researchers Did
Researchers studied how hyperbaric oxygen therapy affected blood tests and blood clotting in 29 patients with acute viral hepatitis compared to 40 patients who did not receive the therapy.
What They Found
The study found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy positively influenced most blood clotting and clot-disrupting factors in patients with acute viral hepatitis. This therapy helped bring these blood parameters closer to a healthy standard for the specific stage and severity of the disease.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with acute viral hepatitis, this study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy might help normalize blood clotting functions. However, acute viral hepatitis is not a Health Canada-recognized indication for HBOT, meaning it is not a standard or widely available treatment for this condition in Canada.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This study was conducted many years ago with a relatively small number of patients, and the abstract does not detail the specific hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocols used.