What Are Neuroimmunological Disorders?
Neuroimmunological disorders represent an emerging category of autoimmune diseases that affect the nervous system through immune-mediated mechanisms.
They include neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), autoimmune encephalitis, such as anti-NMDA receptor and anti-LGI1 encephalitis, Guillain–Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and other conditions in which autoantibodies or autoreactive immune cells target structures within the nervous system.
The clinical presentation varies according to the neural structure affected. Autoantibodies directed against myelin may cause demyelination and neurological deficits, those targeting synaptic receptors may lead to encephalitis, while antibodies against gangliosides may result in peripheral neuropathies. Diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical findings, neuroimaging and the detection of specific autoantibodies.
Characteristics of Neuroimmunological Disorders
A common feature of neuroimmunological disorders is inflammatory injury to nervous tissue, which has a limited capacity for regeneration. Each episode of autoimmune activation may leave a residual neurological deficit that accumulates with successive relapses.
Minimising this cumulative impairment by controlling autoimmune inflammation while supporting neuronal survival is therefore a central therapeutic objective.
Local hypoxia within inflamed nervous tissue may further aggravate the injury. Neural cells already affected by autoimmune attack have reduced resilience and are particularly vulnerable to additional ischaemic stress.
Improving oxygenation within nervous tissue is therefore especially relevant in this group of conditions.
Scientific Evidence and Clinical Reports
The scientific rationale for the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in neuroimmunological disorders is based mainly on evidence from neurological rehabilitation, including improved oxygenation of nervous tissue, activation of neurotrophic factors and enhanced neuroplasticity, as well as broader immunomodulatory findings such as suppression of Th17 activity, enhancement of regulatory T-cell function and reduction of autoimmune inflammation.
Clinical reports involving patients with CIDP and NMOSD who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy alongside immunomodulatory treatment have described improvements in neurological function, reductions in fatigue and stabilisation of the disease.
These findings suggest a potential synergy between the immunological and neurological effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
In neuroimmunological disorders, hyperbaric oxygen therapy acts at two levels simultaneously.
At the neurological level, it aims to improve oxygenation within nervous tissue, activate neurotrophic factors and support neuronal survival. At the immunological level, it may help suppress autoimmune neuroinflammation, enhance regulatory T-cell activity and reduce pathological antibody production.
It is always used as an adjunctive treatment under neurological and rheumatological supervision.
A typical treatment course consists of 20 to 40 sessions.