Hydrogen Intervention Associated with Refractory Wound Response After Radiotherapy
Effect of hydrogen intervention on refractory wounds after radiotherapy: A case report
Research hubs: Skin & Dermatology System
- Evidence type
- Case report or series · Human study
- Authors
- Peng-Xiang Zhao, Rui-Liu Luo, Zheng Dang, You-Bin Wang, Xu-Juan Zhang, Zi-Yi Liu, Xiao-Hu Wen, Meng-Yu Liu, Ming-Zi Zhang, Yao Mawulikplimi Adzavon, Xue-Mei Ma
- Journal
- World Journal of Clinical Cases
- Year
- 2022
- PMID
- 36158021
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 1
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 2 hours of hydrogen inhalation per day for 6 months
- H₂ concentration
- 66% H2 gas
- Duration
- 6 months
- Conflicts of interest
- None declared
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 2 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas helped heal a patient's stubborn wound that didn't improve with other treatments.
Key Finding
A patient with a chronic, radiation-resistant shoulder wound achieved complete healing within six months using hydrogen inhalation therapy combined with standard wound care, after previous treatments had failed.
Summary
This case report describes a 42-year-old woman with a chronic, non-healing wound on her shoulder that developed after skin grafting and radiation therapy. After six months of breathing hydrogen gas for two hours daily (along with standard wound care), the wound healed completely, whereas previous treatments with oxygen therapy and growth factors had failed. The authors suggest hydrogen inhalation may be a promising, low-cost treatment for difficult-to-heal wounds caused by radiation.
Practical Takeaway
While this single case suggests hydrogen inhalation may help with radiation-induced wounds, it is far too limited to draw conclusions about effectiveness. A case report of one patient cannot establish whether hydrogen was responsible for healing or whether other factors (time, wound care, or natural recovery) played a role. Much larger, controlled studies in humans would be needed before hydrogen inhalation could be recommended as a standard treatment.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Patients with keloids who receive radiotherapy (RT) after surgery can develop refractory wounds that cannot be healed by the patient's own repair system. Such chronic wounds are uneven and complex due to persistent abscess and ulceration. Without external intervention, they can easily…