What Researchers Did
Researchers measured levels of specific inflammatory markers, leukotrienes B4 and C4, in the blood of patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and observed the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBOT).
What They Found
The study found that patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever had significantly higher levels of LTB4 (53 + 10 pg/ml) and LTC4 (175 + 22 pg/ml) compared to healthy individuals (LTB4: 25 + 5 pg/ml; LTC4: 67 + 19 pg/ml). During fever attacks, these levels increased further to 107 + 21 pg/ml for LTB4 and 249 + 34 pg/ml for LTC4. Hyperbaric oxygenation was observed to reduce these elevated leukotriene levels, which was associated with pain and fever relief.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This study was published in 1990 and provides limited details on its methodology, sample size, or specific HBOT protocols used.