Hydrogen Therapy Helps Arthritis Patient Recover from Drug Side Effects
- Authors
- Ting-Hao Tu, 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.14014
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Taiwan
- Health Condition
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Body System
- Immune System
TL;DR
Molecular hydrogen therapy helped a patient with rheumatoid arthritis recover from serious side effects caused by a common medication.
Key Finding
A patient with severe methotrexate-induced side effects showed marked clinical improvement and normalized laboratory values after receiving molecular hydrogen therapy, with immune cell changes suggesting potential immune modulation.
Summary
This case report describes a 66-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis who developed severe side effects from methotrexate (a common RA medication), including low blood cell counts, mouth sores, and organ problems. When she was treated with molecular hydrogen therapy (hydrogen gas), her symptoms improved and her blood tests returned to normal. The study also found changes in immune cells that suggest hydrogen may help regulate the immune system while reducing methotrexate's harmful effects.
Practical Takeaway
While this single case report suggests hydrogen therapy may help reduce methotrexate's toxic effects in rheumatoid arthritis patients, it is too limited to draw firm conclusions—it describes only one person's experience. Much larger, controlled studies are needed before hydrogen can be recommended as a treatment for methotrexate side effects. Anyone taking methotrexate should discuss any new treatments with their doctor first.
Abstract
Background/aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease with systemic manifestations. Methotrexate (MTX) remains a cornerstone of RA treatment, offering significant therapeutic benefits; however, it is also associated with adverse effects, particularly myelosuppression. Molecular hydrogen, recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has demonstrated potential in mitigating oxidative stress and modulating immune responses in RA. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of molecular hydrogen therapy in alleviating MTX-induced myelosuppression while preserving its immunoregulatory effects in a patient with RA. Case report: We present the case of a 66-year-old Taiwanese female diagnosed with RA according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria. The patient presented to the emergency department on August 30, 2024, with oral ulcers, sore throat, weakness, and diarrhea. Clinical assessment revealed hypotension, tachycardia, pancytopenia, hepatic insufficiency, and acute kidney injury. Outpatient medications were discontinued, and molecular hydrogen therapy was initiated. The patient exhibited marked clinical improvement, with normalization of laboratory parameters. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated a progressive increase in the percentages of PD-1+ subsets of Th and Tc cells, as well as memory and activated regulatory T (Treg) cells. In contrast, B regulatory (Breg) cell levels remained unchanged. No adverse events were observed during the course of hydrogen therapy. Conclusion: This is the first case report to highlight severe MTX-induced myelosuppression in an RA patient and to demonstrate the potential of molecular hydrogen therapy in modulating immune markers.