Skip to main content

You must be a logged-in member of UHMS or a subscriber to the UHMS Journal in order to download the articles listed within these pages. If you are a member or subscriber, please log in using the Log In button above. If you would like to purchase a membership or a subscription, use the buttons below.

Join the UHMS
Purchase a Subscription

Search UHM/UBR

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in patients suffering from wounds in calciphylaxis: a narrative review

Background: Calcific uremic arteriolopathy (calciphylaxis) is a rare and highly lethal vascular disease. Vascular calcification with calcium depositions lead to ischemic ulcers associated with gangrene, severe pain and poor healing. Although hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy has been used in the treatment of calciphylaxis, evidence of its effectiveness is limited.

Objective: To determine whether HBO2 therapy has a beneficial effect in the healing of calciphylaxis ulcers. 

Methods: A search was made in PubMed using a comprehensive strategy to identify the effect of HBO2 on calciphylaxis wounds. Included in the analysis were studies published up to October 2018 involving a minimum of four patients receiving HBO2 therapy.

Results: Ten retrospective (case) series were included. This review included a total of 131 patients with calciphylaxis who were treated with HBO2 therapy; of these, 58 patients (45%) had full response on HBO2 with complete wound closure. Regarding partial response, 17 of the patients (13%) experienced substantial wound improvement on different wound scale scores.

Conclusion: Patients with calcific uremic arteriolopathy can benefit from HBO2. More research is needed using standardized wound scores. Outcomes related to quality of life and pain relief should also be assessed.

DOI: 10.22462/01.03.2020.12