Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Improve Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Patients Underwent Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a potentially curative therapeutic strategy for patients with hematopoietic malignancies. However, the therapeutic benefits and wider application of allo-HSCT are limited by acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), the latter remains a major obstacle against long-term survival for this population. New aGVHD prophylactic and therapeutic strategies that are superior in efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness, and less technically demanding are still in desperate need.

Although a variety of immune and non-immune cells are involved in the development of aGVHD, reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proved as the primary triggers of the inflammatory response and play a key role in the pathogenesis of aGVHD. Therefore, strategies targeting ROS production are crucial for effectively managing aGVHD. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a well-established treatment method, which is used to improve non-healing ulcers secondary to aGVHD and hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) after allo-HSCT whether induced by infection or aGVHD. Even the exact mechanism is not fully understood, HBOT was demonstrated to reduce a series of pro-inflammatory cytokines release and can improve the action of antibiotics.

In this study, the investigators plan to initiate a randomized, controlled, and open clinical cohort study confirm the safety and efficacy of HBOT on aGVHD in patient underwent allo-HSCT.