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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for chronic ulcers in systemic sclerosis - case series
Bengusu Mirasoglu1, Bekir S Bagli1, Samil Aktas1
1Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine Department, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) shows promise for healing painful digital and leg ulcers in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. This study suggests HBOT may be a beneficial adjunctive treatment for these challenging, nonhealing wounds.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Vascular Medicine
- Wound Healing
Background:
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) frequently causes painful, difficult-to-heal digital and leg ulcers.
- Existing treatments for SSc ulcers are often limited in efficacy.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a potential adjunctive treatment for chronic wounds due to their hypoxic nature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of HBOT as an adjunctive therapy for ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of six systemic sclerosis patients with digital or leg ulcers.
- Evaluation of patient demographics, ulcer characteristics, and treatment details.
- Assessment of outcomes following the application of HBOT.
Main Results:
- Four out of six patients experienced complete ulcer healing after HBOT.
- Two patients achieved near-complete healing of their ulcers.
- No amputations were required for any of the patients in the study.
Conclusions:
- Adjunctive HBOT may be a beneficial treatment for systemic sclerosis-related ulcers.
- This case series represents the largest patient population studied for HBOT in SSc ulcers to date.
- HBOT offers a potential therapeutic option for nonhealing SSc wounds.
Background:
Digital and leg ulcers are extremely painful, hard to heal manifestations of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Many treatments have been tried for these challenging complications, but use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is very limited. HBOT has been used as an adjunctive therapy for treating chronic wounds, and nonhealing SSc wounds, which have a hypoxic nature, may also benefit from it.
Methods:
This is a retrospective analysis of six SSc patients who underwent HBOT for their ulcers. Patient demographics, ulcer properties, and details of treatments were evaluated.
Results:
Three patients had digital ulcers, and the other three had leg ulcers. Three patients (two leg ulcers and one digital ulcer) had bilateral lesions. All patients had been treated for at least one and a half months with various modalities. After HBOT was applied, four patients' ulcers healed completely and two patients had near-complete healing. Amputation was not required for any.
Conclusion:
This case series, which has the largest patient population up to present, shows adjunctive HBOT may be helpful in the treatment of SSc ulcers.
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