Hyperbaric Chamber Oxygen Therapy And Stem Cells
New research is being done that shows the benefit of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in helping with a successful UCB transplant and engraftment. Stem cells are used to produce blood cells and are often used to treat blood-related cancers. When patients do not have a donor for the transplant, umbilical cord blood (UCB) is commonly used. UCB typically holds the least amount of risks with the most benefit with transplants. One of the biggest problems with the transplant process is engraftment. Engraftment is achieved when blood-making cells that were transplanted on graft day start to make healthy cells in their new environment.
HBOT is a non-invasive treatment that allows a patient to breathe 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber. This allows all the cells in the body to multiply at a faster rate. Studies show that receiving a two-hour HBOT treatment on the day of transplant and continuing with HBOT treatments as recommended by your oncologist after transplant show a large reduction in the need for blood transfusions. Although sample sizes in trials have been low, 100% of patients who received HBOT were weaned from blood transfusions after 100 days.
This shows that the transplanted stem cells were able to attach to bone marrow and start producing stem cells on their own.
“…receiving a two-hour HBOT treatment on the day of transplant and continuing with HBOT treatments…show a large reduction in the need for blood transfusions.”
HBOT And Stem Cell Mobilization
The latest research from the American Journal of Physiology has demonstrated a substantial increase in stem cell production after hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The study investigated if HBOT would mobilize stem cells from the bone marrow. A group of patients who had just undergone radiotherapy, had their blood taken before and after their 1st, 10th, and 20th hyperbaric oxygen treatment.
Over the course of 20 treatments, the number of CD34 stem cells increased eightfold, alright white blood cells did not increase significantly. The number of colony-forming cells (CFCs) also increased substantially. It’s clear that hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which has been in use for more than 70 years, is the biggest supporter of new scientific breakthroughs.
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