Clinical Trial – Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy After Stroke – PILOT

The goal of this pilot study is to establish more information about hyperbaric oxygen therapy
for this group of patients, and give us more information of how to initiate the best possible
main study. Can we find any indications that support the use of this therapy for patients
suffering from chronic disability after cerebral infarction? Can we improve physical and
cognitive function.

A Dual Role for Hyperbaric Oxygen in Stroke Neuroprotection: Preconditioning of the Brain and Stem Cells.

Stroke continues to be an extremely prevalent disease and poses a great challenge in developing safe and effective therapeutic options. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has demonstrated significant pre-clinical effectiveness for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, and limited potential in treating chronic neurological deficits. Reported benefits include reductions in oxidative stress, inflammation, neural apoptosis, and improved physiological metrics such as edema and oxygen perfusion, all of which contribute to improved functional recovery.

Targeting vascular inflammation in ischemic stroke: Recent developments on novel immunomodulatory approaches.

Ischemic stroke is a devastating and debilitating medical condition with limited therapeutic options. However, accumulating evidence indicates a central role of inflammation in all aspects of stroke including its initiation, the progression of injury, and recovery or wound healing. A central target of inflammation is disruption of the blood brain barrier or neurovascular unit. Here we discuss recent developments in identifying potential molecular targets and immunomodulatory approaches to preserve or protect barrier function and limit infarct damage and functional impairment.

The Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Functional Impairments Caused by Ischemic Stroke.

While research suggests a benefit of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for neurologic injury, controlled clinical trials have not been able to clearly define the benefits. To investigate the effects of HBOT on physical and cognitive impairments resulting from an ischemic stroke. Using a within-subject design a baseline for current functional abilities was established over a 3-month period for all subjects (n=7). Each subject then received two 4-week periods of HBOT for a total of 40 90-minute treatments over a 12-week period. Subjects completed a battery of assessments and had blood drawn six times over the 9-month total duration of the study.