Complete Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatment Options For Autism Patients

Complete Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatment Options For Autism Patients by Allen WoodHyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) – As An Effective Treatment For AutismRecently, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has increased in popularity as a treatment for autism. Numerous studies document oxidative stress and inflammation in individuals with autism; both of these conditions have demonstrated improvement with Hyperbaric therapy or HBOT, along with enhancement of neurological function and cognitive performance. You might be familiar with hyperbaric oxygen treatment, in which a patient breathes in extra oxygen while inside a pressurized chamber, as a therapy for the bends and carbon monoxide poisoning. But while a small segment of families with autistic children believe it helps their kids, insurance generally doesn’t pay for it, and many doctors are skeptical that it does any good.New research in today’s BMC Pediatrics may give the hyperbaric therapy more credibility as a treatment for autism. The randomized, double-blind controlled study of 62 children found that those who received 40 hours of hyperbaric treatment over a month were less irritable, more responsive when people spoke to them, made more eye contact and were more sociable than kids who didn’t receive it. They were also less sensitive to noise (some autistic children experience a kind of sensory overload from loud sounds and background noise). The most improvement was observed in kids older than five (the study included children ages two to seven) who had milder autism.In various hyperbaric treatment research and study, children with autism are treated with HBOT in hyperbaric chambers at atmospheric pressures and oxygen concentrations in current use for this condition. Changes in markers of oxidative stress and inflammation are measured. The children are evaluated to determine clinical effects and safety.Treatment Methods: Eighteen children with autism, ages 3-16 years, underwent 40 hyperbaric sessions of 45 minutes duration each at either 1.5 atmospheres (atm) and 100% oxygen, or at 1.3 atm and 24% oxygen. Measurements of C-reactive protein (CRP) and markers of oxidative stress, including plasma oxidized glutathione (GSSG), are assessed by fasting blood draws collected before and after the 40 treatments. Changes in clinical symptoms, as rated by parents, are also assessed. The children are closely monitored for potential adverse effects. Results: At the endpoint of 40 hyperbaric sessions, neither group demonstrated statistically significant changes in mean plasma GSSG levels, indicating intracellular oxidative stress appears unaffected by either regimen. A trend towards improvement in mean CRP was present in both groups; the largest improvements were observed in children with initially higher elevations in CRP. When all 18 children were pooled, a significant improvement in CRP was found (p = 0.021). Pre- and post-parental observations indicated statistically significant improvements in both groups, including motivation, speech, and cognitive awareness (p < 0.05). No major adverse events were observed. Conclusion: In this prospective pilot study of children with autism, HBOT conducted in hyperbaric chambers at a maximum pressure of 1.5 atm with up to 100% oxygen was safe and well tolerated. HBOT did not appreciably worsen oxidative stress and significantly decreased inflammation as measured by CRP levels. Parental observations support anecdotal accounts of improvement in several domains of autism. However, since this was an open-label study, definitive statements regarding the efficacy of HBOT for the treatment of individuals with autism in hyperbaric chambers must await results from double-blind, controlled trials.The International Hyperbarics Association, Inc. is an educational and charitable organization focusing on the needs of the hyperbaric community. Members come to us from all facets of the medical field, ranging from medical centers treating the hyperbaric needs of their patients. For more information please log on to ihausa.orgArticle Source: eArticlesOnline.com