Hydrogen Capsules Help Woman with Lupus Heart Condition

Authors
Journal
In Vivo
Year
DOI
10.21873/invivo.13926
Study Type
Human
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Taiwan
Health Condition
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Body System
Cardiovascular

TL;DR

Breathing in molecular hydrogen helped improve the symptoms of a patient with a severe heart and lung complication from lupus, without causing any side effects.

Key Finding

A single patient with severe SLE-PAH showed symptom stabilization and changes in immune markers (increased Tr1 cells, decreased Treg and B cells) after receiving daily hydrogen capsules as an add-on treatment.

Summary

This report describes one patient with a serious lung condition called SLE-PAH (a complication of lupus that causes high blood pressure in the lungs) who was given hydrogen capsules as an additional treatment alongside her regular medications. After starting hydrogen therapy, her symptoms stabilized and her immune system markers changed in ways that suggested reduced inflammation, with no harmful side effects observed.

Practical Takeaway

While this case report suggests hydrogen therapy was well-tolerated and may have supported immune changes in one patient with a severe autoimmune lung condition, it represents only a single case. Much larger studies are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about whether hydrogen therapy could help people with SLE-PAH. Anyone with this condition should discuss any new treatments with their doctor.

Abstract

Background/aim: Systemic lupus erythematosus-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SLE-PAH) is a severe complication marked by elevated pulmonary artery pressure, leading to exertional dyspnea and right-sided heart failure. Standard treatments frequently fall short in effectively controlling symptoms, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. This aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of molecular hydrogen therapy in a patient with SLE-PAH with decompensated right-side heart failure. Case report: We present the case of a 51-year-old female diagnosed with SLE-PAH in 2012. Despite treatment with vasodilator agents, her condition worsened following an episode of sepsis, leading to severe dyspnea and oxygen desaturation since 2018. In March 2024, molecular hydrogen therapy was introduced as an adjuvant treatment. The patient received daily hydrogen capsules, which resulted in an increased percentage of Tr1 cells, and a decreased percentage of Treg cell subsets, B cell subsets, marginal cell, and plasma cell. Her clinical symptoms stabilized, and no adverse effects or complications were observed. Conclusion: This case study highlights the potential efficacy of molecular hydrogen therapy in a patient with SLE-PAD and decompensated right-sided heart failure precipitated by sepsis. Further research is needed to confirm its therapeutic benefits, particularly its ability to modulate immune markers and improve clinical outcomes.