Hydrogen Therapy Shows Promise for Lupus Heart Complications
- Authors
- Ting-Hao, Jeng-Wei Lu, Yi-Jung Ho, Shan-Wen Lui, Ting-Yu Hsieh, Kuang-Yih Wang, Feng-Cheng Liu
- Journal
- In Vivo
- Year
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.21873/invivo.14103
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Taiwan
- Health Condition
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Hydrogen therapy may help regulate the immune system and ease symptoms in autoimmune conditions like lupus with heart complications.
Key Finding
In this single patient with lupus and heart inflammation, molecular hydrogen therapy was associated with measurable changes in immune cell populations, including decreased Tr1 cells and increased naïve regulatory T cells.
Summary
This case report describes a 49-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own tissues) who had inflammation in the heart lining and lungs. When she received molecular hydrogen therapy as an additional treatment in October 2024, doctors observed changes in her immune cells—specifically, certain regulatory immune cells increased while others decreased. The study suggests hydrogen may have affected how her immune system was functioning, though much more research is needed to confirm whether this actually helped her symptoms.
Practical Takeaway
This is a single case report, not a clinical trial, so it provides only preliminary evidence that hydrogen therapy may influence immune responses in lupus patients. The immune cell changes observed are interesting but do not prove the therapy helped the patient's condition or symptoms. Much larger and more rigorous studies are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about hydrogen's usefulness for lupus or other autoimmune diseases.
Abstract
Background/aim: Pericarditis is a common cardiovascular complication associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Oxidative stress plays a significant role in disease pathology. Molecular hydrogen has emerged as a promising therapeutic option with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. While prior studies have demonstrated its cardioprotective effects, research on its immunomodulatory potential in autoimmune diseases remains limited; therefore, this article presents a case study with SLE experiencing pericarditis and pleuritis, receiving hydrogen therapy in October 2024 as part of an effort to evaluate its potential in modulating immune responses and alleviating disease symptoms. Case report: This is the case of a 49-year-old Taiwanese female diagnosed with SLE, alongside pericarditis, pleuritis, and multi-organ impairments. Despite initial treatment and intermittent follow-ups, the patient experienced recurrent disease exacerbations, which was managed with immunomodulatory therapies. In October 2024, molecular hydrogen supplementation was introduced as an adjuvant therapy. Immunophenotypic analysis revealed dynamic changes in the percentages of immune cells, with decreasing trend of Tr1 cells and increasing trend of naïve Treg cells, B cell subsets expressing Fas, and transitional B cells following molecular hydrogen therapy. Conclusion: Molecular hydrogen therapy had potential to modulate immune markers in this case study. Further investigation into its clinical efficacy and safety is necessary for the development of treatment guidelines.