Hydrogen Therapy Helps 85-Year-Old Woman with Severe Arthritis

Authors
Journal
In Vivo
Year
DOI
10.21873/invivo.14166
Study Type
Human
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Taiwan
Health Condition
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Body System
Musculoskeletal

TL;DR

In an elderly RA patient with methotrexate intolerance and severe cervical spine disease, molecular hydrogen therapy improved fatigue and showed immunomodulatory effects, suggesting potential as an adjuvant.

Key Finding

An elderly patient with treatment-resistant rheumatoid arthritis showed improvements in fatigue and changes in immune cell populations after receiving molecular hydrogen as an adjuvant therapy, though this is a single case with limited follow-up.

Summary

This case report describes an 85-year-old woman with severe, long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease attacking joints) who could not tolerate standard medications. She received molecular hydrogen therapy (hydrogen gas with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties) as an additional treatment starting in June 2023. Her fatigue improved, and her immune cells showed changes suggesting the hydrogen may have affected her immune system, though she ultimately declined surgery for a serious spine condition and chose palliative care.

Practical Takeaway

While this case suggests molecular hydrogen may have immunomodulatory effects in rheumatoid arthritis, it represents only one patient's experience and cannot establish whether hydrogen therapy is effective. Much larger controlled studies are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about its role in treating rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

Background/aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting synovial joints, often causing to joint destruction and systemic comorbidities. Cervical spine involvement, especially atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS), can lead to spinal cord compression and neurological deficits. While disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are standard therapy, intolerance to agents like methotrexate (MTX) in elderly or comorbid patients limits options. Molecular hydrogen, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has emerged as a potential adjuvant in autoimmune diseases. This case report describes an elderly woman with long-standing, treatment-refractory RA and severe cervical spine disease who received molecular hydrogen therapy, highlighting immunological changes, clinical outcomes, and challenges in managing RA with complex comorbidities. Case report: An 85-year-old Taiwanese woman with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria) and multiple comorbidities discontinued methotrexate in 2016 due to pancytopenia. Her RA was managed with oral steroids and hydroxychloroquine, but she had recurrent hospitalizations for flares with multiple joint pain. Molecular hydrogen therapy was initiated in June 2023 as an adjuvant treatment. Fatigue, assessed using the Taiwan Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI-T), improved notably across multiple domains, accompanied by dynamic changes in immune cell populations suggesting immunomodulatory effects. During this admission, atlantoaxial subluxation was diagnosed, fulfilling surgical criteria; however, the patient and her family declined surgery due to risk and prognosis, opting for palliative care until her death. Conclusion: This case highlights the potential immunomodulatory benefits of molecular hydrogen as an adjuvant therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Although clinical and immunological improvements were observed, larger studies with longer follow-up are needed. It also illustrates severe cervical spine involvement, atlantoaxial subluxation, underscoring the complexity and neurological risks of advanced RA.