Hydrogen Therapy Helps Rare Heart Disease Patient When Other Treatments Failed
- Authors
- Yun-Ting Lin, Jeng-Wei Lu, Chun-Hsien Wu, Yi-Jung Ho, Shan-Wen Lui, Ting-Yu Hsieh, Feng-Cheng Liu
- Journal
- In Vivo
- Year
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.21873/invivo.13797
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Taiwan
- Health Condition
- Sjögren's Syndrome
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
A woman with severe lung and heart complications from a connective tissue disease improved after treatment with molecular hydrogen, suggesting a new potential therapy for this condition.
Key Finding
A patient with severe, treatment-resistant pulmonary arterial hypertension showed clinical symptom stabilization and improved immune cell profiles after receiving molecular hydrogen therapy as an add-on treatment.
Summary
This case report describes a 56-year-old woman with a severe lung and heart condition (pulmonary arterial hypertension related to Sjögren's syndrome) that did not improve with standard medications. When she started taking daily hydrogen capsules in 2023, her symptoms stabilized and blood tests showed changes in immune cells—specifically an increase in regulatory T cells (immune cells that calm inflammation) and a decrease in harmful antibodies. She experienced no side effects.
Practical Takeaway
This is a single case report, not a controlled study, so it provides only early, preliminary evidence that hydrogen therapy may help in this specific severe condition. While the patient's immune markers and symptoms improved, larger and more rigorous studies are needed before hydrogen therapy can be recommended for this disease. Anyone with pulmonary arterial hypertension should discuss any new treatments with their doctor.
Abstract
Background/aim: Connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) is a severe complication characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressure, which can lead to right heart failure and death, if untreated. Standard treatments often fail to adequately manage symptoms, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches. This study investigated the efficacy of molecular hydrogen (H2) therapy in a patient with CTD-PAH. Case report: We present the case of a 56-year-old female with CTD-PAH, diagnosed in 2013 with Sjogren's syndrome complicated by interstitial lung disease (ILD) and PAH. Despite treatment with sildenafil, bosentan, macitentan, iloprost, and corticosteroids, her condition deteriorated, resulting in severe dyspnea and cardiogenic shock in 2020. In May 2023, molecular hydrogen therapy was initiated as an adjuvant treatment. The patient received daily hydrogen capsules, which led to increased CD127+ Treg cells, reduced anti-Ro antibodies, and decreased B cell subsets. Her clinical symptoms stabilized without adverse effects. Conclusion: This case highlights the potential benefits of molecular hydrogen therapy in CTD-PAH. H2 therapy exhibiting anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, leading to improved immune cell profiles and stabilizing clinical symptoms in a patient unresponsive to conventional treatments. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of H2 therapy and validate its efficacy in larger cohorts. Molecular hydrogen therapy shows promise as a safe adjunctive treatment for CTD-PAH, offering a new approach for managing this challenging condition. Keywords: B cell subsets; CD127 + Treg; Hydrogen therapy; anti-Ro antibody; case report; connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH).