MR Imaging Evaluation of the Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

We report the results on a long-term study of the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on multiple sclerosis assessed by MR imaging. Ten patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis were studied by MR imaging during a two year HBO treatment of disease. A transient benefit of HBO therapy on brain multiple sclerosis was revealed for patients with relapsing-remitting disease course that was demonstrated at MR imaging. However, no significant changes in the total number and size of brain lesions was demonstrated on MR images in long-term follow-up of patients treated with HBO in accordance with the results of clinical outcome observed in this study.