Hydrogen Gas Delivered Through ECMO Reduces Blood Clotting in Lab Study
- Authors
- Lucia Gandini, Keibun Liu, Margaret R Passmore, Chris H H Chan, Emily S Wilson, Shinichi Ijuin, Angelo Milani, Kieran Hyslop, Nicole White, Binuri Perera, Nchafatso Obonyo, Mahe Bouquet, Gianluigi Li Bassi, John F Fraser, Jacky Y Suen
- Journal
- ASAIO Journal
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1097/MAT.0000000000002644
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Australia
- Health Condition
- Cardiorespiratory Failure
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Hydrogen can be safely delivered through ECMO systems and may help reduce platelet activation and oxidative stress in circulating blood.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas delivered through ECMO sweep gas achieved stable therapeutic concentrations and significantly reduced platelet aggregation in human blood samples.
Summary
This laboratory study tested whether hydrogen gas could be safely delivered through an ECMO machine (a device that temporarily takes over heart and lung function for critically ill patients). Researchers added 2% hydrogen to the gas mixture in ECMO circuits and exposed blood samples from four healthy volunteers to it for 6 hours. The hydrogen was successfully delivered at stable levels, and it reduced platelet clumping (which relates to blood clotting) and showed some signs of reducing oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules).
Practical Takeaway
This is a very early-stage laboratory study using blood samples outside the body, not human patients or even animals. While it shows hydrogen can be safely delivered through ECMO machines and may reduce unwanted blood clotting, much more research in animal models and eventually clinical trials would be needed before any clinical use. The findings are too preliminary to draw conclusions about health benefits for patients.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen has emerged as a therapeutic agent in inflammatory critical illnesses due to its potential to modulate inflammation and oxidative stress. However, its role in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a life-saving intervention for severe cardiorespiratory failure associated…