Conditions

HIV/AIDS

AIDS is a collection of symptoms and infections due to specific damage to the immune system caused by HIV. Complications and symptoms include but are not limited to:

Major pulmonary illnesses
Major gastro-intestinal illnesses
Major neurological illnesses
Major HIV-associated Malignancies

And a vast collection of non-specific symptoms such as fevers, weight-loss and even blindness. Symptoms are ever changing and fast growing. Advances in science and medicine are helping to reduce symptoms and will hopefully lead to a cure in the near future.

HBOT's oxygen saturating technique forces oxygen not only into red blood cells (regular oxygen carriers) but into all body fluids including the body's tissues, combating Hypoxia and reducing severe secondary complications of opportunistic infections.

"HBOT alleviates the blood vessel problems directly associated with HIV and Herpes infections; [It] enhances the effectiveness of drug therapies, reduces adverse side effects and shortens the length of time associated with secondary infections." (Reillo 1999)

Dr. Kief treated a number of Aids patients in the 1980s with "Hyperbaric ozone blood washings." He reported improvement of many associated symptoms including thrush, fungal infections, gastrointestinal problems and chronic low energy. (Kief 1993)

HIV-Related fatigue and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) is being evaluated to determine the effectiveness in relieving HIV-related fatigue and determine the clinical and immunological effects on HIV-infected individuals. Twenty-five patients have been enrolled over a two-year period. Admission criteria include chief complaint of fatigue, seropositivity as confirmed by ELISA and Western Blot for HIV infection, 500 CD4 cells or less, and absence of active opportunistic infections which might compromise pulmonary or neurologic function. Twenty patients received 2 ATA, for 90 minutes, three times per week. Five patients voluntarily received surface air at the same parameters to control for a placebo effect, and then received 100% oxygen; all patients were treated simultaneously in the HBO chamber. Withdrawal of HBO therapy for one month was completed for 21 patients, secondary to chamber construction. Laboratory, clinical assessment, and Karnofsky Performance Scores were completed monthly on all patients. Results: All patients indicated relief of debilitating fatigue within two weeks. Karnofsky Scores improved 10% to 30% within one month. Weights for all patients remained stable or increased; CD4, Hemoglobin, and Hematocrit counts remained stable and/or increased. Tumor Necrosis Factor decreased in 13 patients. P-24 antigens remained non-reactive or decreased if reactive. Withdrawal of therapy for one month secondary to new chamber construction for all but four patients correlated with return of baseline fatigue levels. One patient developed herpes zoster and was treated with zovirax and HBO via monoplace chamber. After resuming HBO therapy, all remaining patients returned to their six-month Karnofsky Score, which indicated significant improvement in their fatigue levels. Twenty-three of the twenty-five patients have shown no clinical disease progression; 80% of patients enrolled in the study have 50 CD4 cells or less. Further, HBO appeared to relieve pain associated with peripheral neuropathy in two patients and was a beneficial adjunct to the treatment of mild PCP; the investigators have established protocols to further investigate these findings. Conclusion: The study is ongoing. HBO appears to be effective in relieving HIV-related fatigue and improving the quality of life of individuals with HIV/AIDS. Preliminary research indicates a probable correlation with an increase in length of employment capability, delayed disability requirement, and reduction in number and length of hospitalizations by incorporating HBO as a component in the medical management of HIV disease. The investigators believe HBO may relieve fatigue by inhibiting the activity of certain cytokines, enhancing red blood cell production, and enhancing the ability of HIV-impaired monocytes to absorb and utilize oxygen. Reillo, M, R.N., B.S.N., Myers, R., M.D., HBO Staff, MIEMSS, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

HIV-Related fatigue and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) is being evaluated to determine the effectiveness in relieving HIV-related fatigue and determine the clinical and immunological effects on HIV-infected individuals. Twenty-five patients have been enrolled over a two-year period. Admission criteria include chief complaint of fatigue, seropositivity as confirmed by ELISA and Western Blot for HIV infection, 500 CD4 cells or less, and absence of active opportunistic infections which might compromise pulmonary or neurologic function. Twenty patients received 2 ATA, for 90 minutes, three times per week. Five patients voluntarily received surface air at the same parameters to control for a placebo effect, and then received 100% oxygen; all patients were treated simultaneously in the HBO chamber. Withdrawal of HBO therapy for one month was completed for 21 patients, secondary to chamber construction. Laboratory, clinical assessment, and Karnofsky Performance Scores were completed monthly on all patients.

Results:

Conclusion:

Reillo, M, R.N., B.S.N., Myers, R., M.D., HBO Staff, MIEMSS, Baltimore, Maryland, USA