The Term Autoimmune Inflammation
The term autoimmune inflammation covers a broad spectrum of chronic inflammatory conditions of autoimmune or autoimmune-like origin that do not fall within a specific disease entity or combine features of several autoimmune disorders, including overlap syndromes, undifferentiated connective tissue disease and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD).
Their common denominator is persistent abnormal immune activation that causes tissue injury across multiple systems.
Patients with autoimmune inflammation often face a therapeutic grey area. Their symptoms are genuine and disabling, yet their condition may not meet the criteria for a specific diagnosis that would justify intensive biologic treatment.
This group of patients may therefore derive particular value from adjunctive interventions that address the underlying inflammatory process at a biological level.
Characteristics of Autoimmune Inflammation
The shared biological feature of autoimmune inflammatory conditions is persistent abnormal activation of the immune system, resulting in consistently elevated inflammatory markers and mediators, including CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as increased oxidative stress.
This chronic biological state gradually places strain on tissues and organs, even when no single exacerbation causes severe injury.
An imbalance between excessive pro-inflammatory lymphocyte activity and inadequate regulatory immune function represents a central therapeutic target.
Without restoring this balance, symptomatic treatment alone may offer limited long-term benefit.
Scientific Basis
The scientific rationale for the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in autoimmune inflammation is based on broader evidence concerning its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. These include reductions in CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α, increased regulatory T-cell activity, inhibition of NF-κB signalling and reduced oxidative stress.
These effects are biologically relevant to all forms of chronic autoimmune inflammation, regardless of the specific disease category.
Clinical experience involving patients with undifferentiated connective tissue diseases or autoimmune overlap syndromes has indicated improvements in fatigue, muscle pain and general well-being following courses of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
In autoimmune inflammatory conditions, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used as a biological anti-inflammatory intervention targeting the common pathophysiological mechanism underlying these disorders: persistent abnormal immune activation.
It may help restore the balance between pro-inflammatory and regulatory immune cells, reduce inflammatory cytokines and strengthen antioxidant defences.
It is used as an adjunct to prescribed pharmacological treatment and under rheumatological supervision. A typical treatment course consists of 20 to 30 sessions.