What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a pilot study to evaluate how well hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) worked and was tolerated in 14 patients with small bowel stricturing Crohn's disease that had not responded to conventional medical treatment.
What They Found
Patients received a median of 11 HBOT sessions over 4 weeks, with each session lasting 60 minutes at 1.5-2.5 ATA. At 2 and 6 months of follow-up, 64.2% of patients showed a clinical response, while clinical remission was achieved by 50% at 2 months and 64.2% at 6 months. Steroid-free clinical remission was observed in 8 (57%) patients, and 50% showed radiological improvement, with most patients tolerating the treatment well.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with small bowel stricturing Crohn's disease that has not responded to standard treatments, this study suggests HBOT could be a safe and effective option. It offers a potential new way to achieve clinical remission and improve symptoms, possibly reducing the need for steroids or surgery.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
As a pilot study with a small number of participants (14 patients), these promising findings require confirmation in larger, more comprehensive trials.