Hart2
No evidence that hyperbaric oxygen improved symptoms or signs of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis.
| 1, There were no important differences between oxygen and sham treatments at six months **2. General worsening condition of this group as a whole led to the termination of this study. |
- Citation/s: 1. Hart G, Rowe MJ, Myers LW. A controlled study of hyperbaric oxygen treatment in multiple sclerosis. J Hyperbaric Med 1987;2(1):1-5.
Lead author's name and fax: Hart G. Baromedical Dept. Memorial Medical Centre, Long Beach Ca.
- Three-part Clinical Question: For patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis, does hyperbric oxygen at 1.5 ATA comapred to a sham exposure, result in any imporvement in meausres of symptom severity and neurodiagnostic testing?
Search Terms: Multiple sclerosis; KDSS; evoked potentials
- The Study:
Double-blinded concealed randomised controlled trial with intention-to-treat.
The Study Patients: Patients with a diagnosis of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis for at least two years.
Control group (N = 11; 11 analysed): Air breathing in a monoplace chamber for 90 minutes at 1 ATA with brief excursion to 1.25ATA at the start and end to simulate compression/decompression, daily for 20 consecutive days.
Experimental group (N = 11; 11 analysed): As above but breathing 100% oxygen at 1.5ATA for 90 minutes.
- The Evidence:
| Outcome | Time to Outcome | Control Group | HBOT Group | Relative Risk Reduction | Absolute Risk Reducton | NNT |
| Better after treatment by at least 1 on the Kurtzke Disability Scale | six months | 0.091 | 0.182 | 100% | 0.09 | -11 |
| ^ | 95% CIs: | 413% to -100% | 0.19 to -0.38 | NNT 5 to INF; NNH 3 to INF |
| Non-Event Outcomes | Time to outcome/s | Control group | Experimental group | P-value |
| Kurtske Disability Scale (mean score) | 6 months | No figures given | No figures given | >0.05 |
- Comments:
1. Small study with low power was terminated early on recognition of gradual worsening of the Kurtzke Scale in the group.
2. Otherwise this was a methodologically laudable trial with allocation concealment, blinding of patients, staff and outcome evaluators and with efforts to avoid contamination between patients.
- Appraised by: Mike Bennett m.bennett@unsw.edu.au; Monday, 8 January 2018
Kill or Update By: January 2025
