Hydrogen Therapy Helps 85-Year-Old Woman with Severe Lung Disease
- Authors
- Shan-Wen Lui, Jeng-Wei Lu, Yi-Jung Ho, Shih-En Tang, Kai-Hsiung Ko, Ting-Yu Hsieh, Feng-Cheng Liu
- Journal
- In Vivo
- Year
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.21873/invivo.13600
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Taiwan
- Health Condition
- Progressive Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Disease
- Body System
- Respiratory
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen helped improve lung function in an elderly woman with a severe lung scarring condition and pneumonia.
Key Finding
An 85-year-old patient with severe lung scarring disease showed clinical improvement within four days of hydrogen gas therapy, including improved lung imaging and successful weaning from mechanical ventilation, with accompanying changes in immune cell markers suggesting reduced inflammation.
Summary
This case report describes an 85-year-old woman with a severe lung scarring disease (IgG4-related progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease) who was on a breathing machine and also had a hospital-acquired infection. When treated with hydrogen gas therapy, her lung condition improved within four days and she was able to come off the breathing machine. Blood tests showed changes in immune cells after treatment: an increase in regulatory T cells (which calm down immune responses) and a decrease in activated T cells (which trigger immune responses).
Practical Takeaway
This is a single case report in one elderly patient, so it provides only preliminary evidence that hydrogen therapy may warrant further study in lung scarring diseases. Much larger and longer studies are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about whether hydrogen therapy could help patients with this condition. The case suggests a possible mechanism through immune system changes, but this requires confirmation in controlled research.
Abstract
Background/aim: Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) refers to a group of chronic lung conditions commonly associated with immunoglobulin G4-related disorders. It is characterized by progressive scarring (fibrosis) within the pulmonary interstitium, resulting in respiratory failure and early mortality. Some patients do not respond to standard therapeutic interventions. Numerous studies have confirmed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of molecular hydrogen in various disease models. Case report: In this report, we present a case study of an 85-year-old female diagnosed with suspected IgG4-related PF-ILD complicated by hospital-acquired pneumonia. On the fourth day of hydrogen-assisted therapy, a noticeable improvement in lung infiltrations was observed in chest X-rays as the patient gradually progressed towards weaning off mechanical ventilation. To assess treatment responses, we compared immune phenotypes before and after hydrogen treatment. A marked increase was observed in resting regulatory T cell levels after treatment, accompanied by a notable decrease in Fas+ helper T cell and cytotoxic T cell subtypes. Conclusion: This case study highlights the effectiveness of hydrogen-assisted therapy in managing PF-ILD complicated by pneumonia, warranting further research in the future.