Fresh off the research radar — new HBOT science just published, summarized for our community.
Title:
Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on peripheral blood inflammatory markers in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder patients (Pan et al., 2025) (PubMed)
What this study examined
This recent retrospective cohort study evaluated whether Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can modulate immune-inflammation markers in patients with NMOSD — a serious autoimmune neurological condition that often causes optic neuritis and spinal cord damage.
Researchers analysed blood samples from 36 NMOSD patients treated between 2022 and 2024.
- Half of the patients (18) received standard treatment + HBOT
- The other half (18) received standard treatment only
Markers measured before and after treatment included neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte counts — common indicators of systemic inflammation and immune balance.
Key Findings
Immune balance shifted toward less inflammation
- Patients in the HBOT group showed a ~32 % increase in lymphocyte count (i.e. more immune-regulating cells) compared to baseline.
- NLR dropped by ~19 % and PLR dropped by ~18 % — both suggest decreased systemic inflammation.
Stronger effect in those with high inflammatory burden
- Subgroup analysis showed the most pronounced improvements in patients whose baseline NLR was ≥ 3 — meaning those who started with higher inflammation got the biggest benefit.
No serious adverse events reported
- Over the course of the HBOT sessions, no serious side-effects were found, indicating that the protocol was well tolerated in this cohort.
In short: HBOT appeared to rebalance the immune system, lowering inflammatory markers while boosting lymphocyte counts. This suggests a potential immunomodulatory — rather than purely symptomatic — effect in NMOSD.
Why this study matters
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a severe autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the central nervous system, often leading to relapses that damage the optic nerves and spinal cord. Current treatments rely heavily on immunosuppressants and biologics.
This study is important because:
- It provides real-world clinical data (not just lab or animal studies) showing that HBOT may influence systemic immune balance in a meaningful way.
- The biomarkers improved — NLR and PLR — are commonly used proxies for inflammation and immune stress; lowering them may translate to fewer relapses, less damage, better long-term outcomes.
- For patients with high inflammatory burden (e.g. recent relapse, elevated markers), HBOT might offer a useful adjunct therapy alongside standard protocols — possibly giving the immune system a “reset.”
- It supports the broader concept that HBOT effects (immunomodulation, reduced inflammation, oxidative stress balancing) are relevant beyond just wound healing or oxygenation — also for autoimmune/neuroimmune conditions. This accords with reviews that highlight HBOT as a neuromodulatory technique.
Takeaway for our community
This is one of the first clinical datasets suggesting that HBOT could play a supportive immunomodulatory role in serious neuro-autoimmune conditions like NMOSD. While it’s not a cure and doesn’t replace immunosuppressive therapy, the findings are promising: HBOT may help rebalance immune markers, reduce systemic inflammation, and possibly contribute to stabilizing disease activity.
For those exploring HBOT for neurological or auto-immune conditions (or working in HBOT business/therapy), this study adds credible, human-data evidence to the narrative that HBOT can do more than “just oxygen.”
As always — more research is needed! But this is a significant step: HBOT + standard care might become a useful adjunct strategy for managing inflammation in NMOSD.
Study link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41312352
