Hydrogen Therapy Heals Mouth Ulcers in Autoimmune Disease Patient
- Authors
- Che-Cheng Lin, Jeng-Wei Lu, Yi-Jung Ho, Shan-Wen Lui, Ting-Yu Hsieh, Kuang-Yih Wang, Feng-Cheng Liu
- Journal
- In Vivo
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.21873/invivo.14274
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Taiwan
- Health Condition
- Behçet's Disease
- Body System
- Immune System
TL;DR
In a single case, adjunctive molecular hydrogen therapy improved refractory oral ulcers and showed immunomodulatory effects in a patient with Behçet’s disease and Sjögren’s syndrome.
Key Finding
In this single patient case, adding molecular hydrogen capsules to standard treatment was associated with marked improvement in refractory oral ulcers, reduced anti-Ro antibody levels, and favorable changes in T cell markers over several months.
Summary
A 67-year-old woman with two autoimmune diseases (Behçet's disease and Sjögren's syndrome) that caused painful mouth ulcers despite standard treatments was given molecular hydrogen capsules as an additional therapy. Over several months, her mouth ulcers improved significantly, her bleeding decreased, and blood tests showed reduced levels of a problematic antibody and changes in immune cells that suggest the hydrogen may have helped regulate her immune system.
Practical Takeaway
This is a single case report of one patient, not a controlled study, so it provides only preliminary evidence that hydrogen may help with these specific autoimmune conditions. Anyone with Behçet's disease or Sjögren's syndrome considering hydrogen therapy should discuss it with their rheumatologist, as much larger and more rigorous studies are needed to confirm whether hydrogen actually causes these improvements or if other factors were responsible.
Abstract
Background/aimBehçet's Disease is a systemic vasculitis affecting both venous and arterial vessels, characterized by painful oral and genital ulcers. Primary Sjögren's Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder mainly targeting exocrine glands, especially the salivary and lacrimal glands, with possible systemic involvement. Molecular hydrogen has emerged as a potential adjuvant therapy due to its antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects. This report evaluates the efficacy of molecular hydrogen as adjunctive therapy for refractory oral ulcers in a patient with Behçet's disease and primary Sjögren's syndrome.Case reportA 67-year-old Taiwanese woman with Behçet's disease and primary Sjögren's syndrome had recurrent painful oral ulcers and mucosal atrophy since 2018, meeting the International Study Group (ISG) criteria. In 2020, she fulfilled the 2016 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for Sjögren's syndrome based on Schirmer's test (0/0 mm), positive anti-Ro antibody (29 U/ml), and labial salivary gland biopsy findings. Despite long-term, hydroxychloroquine, colchicine, and monthly high-dose intravenous vitamin C and glutathione, her oral ulcers recurred with petechiae and bleeding. In January 2024, oral molecular hydrogen capsules were added as adjunctive therapy. Over several months, she showed marked clinical improvement, with less mucosal bleeding and decreased anti-Ro antibody levels. Immunophenotyping revealed increased naïve T helper Fas cell surface death receptor-positive (Fas+) and cytotoxic T cell programmed death-1-positive (PD-1+) subsets, suggesting immunomodulatory effects. The therapy was well tolerated, with no major adverse events. By August 2025, oral ulcers had markedly improved, and systemic disease remained stable on maintenance with hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, corticosteroid infusions, and hydrogen therapy.ConclusionMolecular hydrogen may aid refractory oral ulcers in Behçet's and primary Sjögren's syndromes, with clinical and immunologic benefits.