Systematic Sclerosis Ulcers Benefit from Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

HealthDay News — Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may be beneficial for treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc) ulcers, according to a report published online in the International Journal of Dermatology.

Bengusu Mirasoglu, MD, from Istanbul University, and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis of 6 SSc patients who had undergone treatment for at least a month and a half with various modalities and then underwent HBOT for their ulcers.

Three patients had digital ulcers and 3 had leg ulcers; 3 of the ulcers were bilateral (2 leg ulcers and one digital ulcer).

The researchers found that 4 patients’ ulcers healed completely after HBOT was applied and 2 had near-complete healing. None of the patients needed amputation.

“Our case series, which has the largest patient population and variability in ulcer size, also showed HBOT-enhanced healing of both digital and leg ulcers of SSc patients,” the researchers wrote. “We believe HBOT may be helpful as an adjunctive therapy for these wounds.”

Reference

Mirasoglu B, Bagli BS, Aktas S. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for chronic ulcers in systematic sclerosis – case series. [published online February 23, 2017]. Int J Dermatol. doi: 10.1111/ijd.13570.