Re: hyperbaric oxygen therapy and CMT

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info, I am a little behind I guess, I had never ever heard

of hyperbaric oxygen treatment in my life. Ran into while searching about

breathing trouble. Anyway thanks again!

ka

>From: Gretchen Glick <liliwigg@...>

>Reply-

>ers at groups < >

>Subject: hyperbaric oxygen therapy and CMT

>Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 11:57:28 -0700

>

>ka, you might be interested in this.

>

>FROM: http://www.mdausa.org/experts/question.cfm?id=1625

>

>SUBJ (02/01): HYPERBARIC OXYGEN TREATMENT FOR CMT

>

>As a retired RN with Charcot-Marie Tooth (CMT) disease probably type 2),

>I have seen several instances where hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT) has been

>successfully used for " nontraditional " treatment. I've heard that it may

>be helpful for peripheral

>neuropathy, but not specifically CMT. I am fully aware that CMT is

>genetic and that the actual neurological damage would not be reversed,

>but I have wondered if the increased cellular respiration could possibly

>lead to a slowing of the progression of CMT, or a decrease in some of

>the neuropathic pain symptoms I experience. In many HBOT

>treatments the cellular function improves.

>

>Are you aware of any research or single case where HBOT has been tried

>with ndividuals with CMT and, if so, what were the results? If not, do

>you feel that there is any potential of any positive results from such

>treatments? I am seriously considering trying this even if I am a first

>case, as I see no potential that if

>properly administered under medical supervision that it would exacerbate

>CMT, and wonder if it could help. I welcome any information, including

>any technical articles that may exist on the subject as well as your

>opinions.

>

>REPLY [1] from MDA: E. Shy, M.D., Wayne State University School

>of Medicine, Detroit, MI

>

>I am not aware of any cases of CMT which have been treated with

>hyperbaric oxygen. I know of no reason, outside of the expense, why such

>treatment would be harmful to a patient. However, I would emphasize that

>CMT disorders are chronic and it is hard to

>imagine how a brief spell in a pressure chamber could provide chronic

>support. Moreover, there is no information I am aware of that suggests

>there are reduced amounts of oxygen to either neurons or Schwann cells

>in inherited neuropathies or other forms of neuropathy.

>

>REPLY [2] from MDA: A. , M.D., MDA Clinic Director, Tulane

>University Medical School, New Orleans, LA

>

>Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) is great for decompression sickness

>and to speed the healing of some infections. It appears to me that HBOT

>is now in use for all types of illnesses. I do not know of any research

>done using HBOT in any type of CMT. I doubt HBOT is helpful for any type

>of CMT. However, I also believe it's safe to use. The defects in the

>demyelinating types of CMT are in some of the myelin proteins (PMP22 in

>1A; P0 myelin in 1B; conexin in CMTX, etc.). Some of the CMT2 types seem

>to be due to defects in neurofilament light and medium axonal proteins.

>Increasing the oxygenation of the nerves is not going to modify the

>genetic defect or modify protein defects. We may need to wait for some

>form of gene therapy or gene modification to treat these disorders.

>There are medications that control the pain in neuropathies

>— you need to consult your neurologist.

>

>REPLY [3] from MDA: F. Chance, M.D., University of Washington,

>Seattle, WA

>

>I am not aware of any treatments for CMT that included hyperbaric

>oxygen. I'm also not sure how such treatments might help, especially in

>the case of those forms in which we know that a defect in a specific

>myelin gene causes the problem. In other forms

>it would be a best guess situation at best as to whether hyperbaric

>oxygen treatment would help.

>

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