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● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Lyme Disease and Hyperbaric
Therapy
Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
On Lyme Disease
by William P. Fife, Ph. D.
29 January 1998
The purpose of this study was to determine if
hyperbaric oxygen therapy affected Lyme disease caused by the spirochete,
Borrelia burgdorferi. The spirochete B. burgdorferi is a
microaerophilic organism carried by the Deer tick (Ixodid) and transferred to
humans and other mammals by its bite. Symptoms often begin by a bulls-eye
rash and erythema migrans. Symptoms may include pain in joints and muscles,
sore throat, fever, swollen glands, and mental " fogginess". If not
diagnosed within the first one or two months, the disease may become a
chronic infection. At that time it apparently becomes sequestered in
fibroblasts and other cells which, in turn appear to protect it against
effective treatment by all known antibiotics so far tested. The disease is
difficult to diagnose without serological findings and requires the skill of
a highly qualified physician, experienced in treating this disease. Rationale It was shown by Austin that
the spirochete could not survive if transferred in air to another host, but
would survive if transferred in a gas mixture of 4% oxygen. This demonstrated
that the spirochete could not survive in an oxygen partial pressure of 160-mm
Hg (the partial pressure of oxygen in air), but could survive in a partial
pressure of 30-mm Hg (which is the partial pressure of 4% oxygen at 1
atmosphere, absolute (ground level pressure). Therefore, it seems clear that
a lethal level of oxygen for the spirochete falls somewhere between 30 mm Hg,
and 160 mm Hg. It also is known that
while the inspired partial pressure of oxygen is approximately 160 mm Hg, at
the tissue level, the partial pressure of oxygen normally is approximately
30-35 mm Hg. Thus, it would not be expected that breathing air at ground
level would cause any damage to the spirochete. However, if the patient were
placed in a hyperbaric chamber and the pressure increased to 2. 36
atmospheres, absolute (ata), the total barometric pressure would be 1794 mm
Hg. If the patient were then to breathe pure oxygen the inspired partial pressure
of oxygen would be 1794 mm Hg. Inspired oxygen is diluted by carbon dioxide
and water vapor in the alveoli, so that the arterial blood would be exposed
to an oxygen partial pressure of approximately 1700-mm Hg, and the tissue
oxygen would be between 200 and 300 mm Hg. This clearly would be above lethal
oxygen levels for the spirochete since it is expected that oxygen normally
would diffuse throughout all cells of the body. This partial pressure
of oxygen can be safely achieved in a hyperbaric chamber, and the patients
can tolerate this level for 90 minutes or longer quite successfully. Protocol This study was approved by
the University Institutional Review Board. Subjects were selected
from those referred by clinical physicians who were experienced in the
treatment of Lyme disease. All subjects presented with a positive diagnosis
of this disease according to the CDC criteria, including a positive Western
blot serology of the proper bands. All had failed intravenous antibiotics,
and many were continuing to deteriorate even though still on various
antibiotics. Subjects were given a
briefing on the use of the hyperbaric chamber, including the risks, and
signed a waiver and release in accordance with the Belmont Report. They were
placed in the multiplace chamber and compressed to 2.36 ata, whereupon a
plastic helmet was placed over the head and pure oxygen was administered. The
oxygen flow pattern was such that the subject inspired 100% oxygen with each
breath. Subjects were able to communicate with the attendant in the chamber
as well as with each other. Treatment duration was
60 minutes on oxygen, and in most instances the treatments were administered
bid for 5 days followed by a two-day rest. Several different series were
tried, ranging from 10 treatments to 30 treatments. One subject received 145
treatments over the course of 3 months. Results Ninety-one subjects completed
a total of 1,995 hyperbaric oxygen treatments, although nine were eliminated
later due to the presence of another medical problem not apparent during
their treatments. These other medical problems were such things as
babesiosis, ehrlichosis, hepatitis C, and previously unidentified
neurological problems. Two subjects were eliminated due to the development of
septicemia from IV catheters, and one because of recent breast cancer,
although all three of them later showed an improvement of Lyme symptoms with
hyperbaric oxygen administration. Subject evaluation was
carried out by an abbreviated questionnaire taken from a standard questionnaire
used by several Lyme specialists as part of their evaluation. This
questionnaire was designed so that zero reflected no symptoms, while ten
reflected severe symptoms. Although additional
statistical evaluation still is being carried out, it appears that
approximately 84.8% of those treated showed significant improvement by a
decrease or elimination of symptoms. Only 12 subjects (13.1%) claimed no
apparent benefit. Before treatment, the
subjects had an average score of 114.12 (of a possible 270), and after
treatment they averaged 49.27. This reduction of 64.85 points was
statistically significant in a paired t-test (p=0.000). The variability of
the scores from patient-to-patient declined as well after the treatment
series. The standard deviation of the scores was 56.00 before and 44.14 after
treatment. The p-value of this reduction is 0.057 in a Fisher's F-test.
Further, 58% of the respondents had score reduction of 41.86 points or more. All except one of the
91 subjects developed severe Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, usually appearing
within the first 5 days of the beginning of hyperbaric oxygen treatment. In
most cases, the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction continued throughout the series
of treatments, and in many instances continued for up to a month after the
treatments were finished. Most subjects then began to show major improvement
that in some instances has continued for 8 months. More Medical Studies on Lyme Disease
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Conditions Treated with Hyperbaric ·
Multiple
Sclerosis and Hyperbaric |
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Coming Soon! …information on: §
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Immune Dysfunction DISCLAIMER This information is for informational purposes
only and is not intended to replace the advice of a physician. Anyone who
wishes to embark on any medical program intended to prevent or treat a
specific disease or condition should first consult with a qualified
physician. Medical Director: Rhett Bergeron, M.D. |
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