What Researchers Did
Researchers treated 15 patients with chronic progressive Multiple Sclerosis with hyperbaric oxygen therapy for 20 daily exposures followed by monthly exposures over a 24-month follow-up period.
What They Found
No objective benefit was observed from hyperbaric oxygen therapy in moderating the progression of multiple sclerosis over the 24-month study period. However, a subjective improvement in bladder control was reported by 8 patients in the short-term and by 5 patients in the long-term follow-up. Electrophysiological results showed no significant variations after the initial 20 exposures.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis should understand that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may not halt disease progression. However, some patients might experience an improved quality of life due to better bladder control with this treatment.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted in Italy.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its small sample size of 15 patients, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.