Oxygen-Ozone (O₂-O₃) Therapy in Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD): A Review Study

The purpose of this study is to review the current knowledge of oxygen-ozone (O₂-O₃) therapy and its effects on peripheral artery disease (PAD) risk factors, symptoms, as well as on PAD patients' quality of life. From the in vitro studies, it has been concluded that the oxygen-ozone therapy exerts a positive effect on the platelet aggregation, cell remodeling, cytoskeletal elements organization and mitochondria structure. In animal studies, it has been shown that the O₂-O₃ therapy is an effective method in hypertension, and it diminishes the hypoxia state of various tissues. Clinical studies have provided evidence on the oxygen-ozone therapy effectiveness in low perfusion syndromes and hyperglycemia, as well as conditions with oxidative stress and inflammation. The oxygen-ozone therapy promotes faster recovery and enhances healing processes. It appears to be an effective adjunctive therapy in preventing peripheral artery disease complications such as occurrence of cardiovascular event, amputation or other extreme surgical solutions. It has been concluded that the O₂-O₃ therapy improves the quality of life of PAD patients. The oxygen-ozone therapy appears to have no adverse events or side effects. Moreover, it is very cost-effective, as standard treatment costs can be reduced by 25%. Easy clinical protocols allow the implementation of oxygen-ozone therapy into the usual care of PAD patients. Finally, the O₂-O₃ therapy may be meaningful especially for older patients and patients who are not eligible for standard revascularization.