From an autoimmune perspective, Crohn\u2019s disease is treated as a disorder of the intestinal immune response. Instead of tolerating the normal bacteria of the gut, the immune system develops an abnormal inflammatory response against them, resulting in chronic transmural inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This autoimmune component shapes the therapeutic approach. Treatment may include biologic agents, such as anti-TNF and anti-IL-12\/23 therapies, as well as immunomodulatory medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From an immunological perspective, the imbalance between inflammation-promoting Th1 and Th17 cells and regulatory T lymphocytes, which help suppress excessive immune activity, represents a central pathological mechanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Restoring this balance is therefore a biologically rational therapeutic objective, both for pharmacological treatment and for adjunctive interventions such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Autoimmune inflammation in Crohn\u2019s disease has a distinctive characteristic: it develops within an environment of persistent local hypoxia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The inflamed intestinal mucosa is exposed to reduced oxygen levels because of the increased metabolic demands of inflammation and impaired microcirculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This hypoxia activates hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1\u03b1), which intensifies inflammatory signalling rather than suppressing it, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing local hypoxia through hyperbaric oxygen therapy may help interrupt this cycle. At the same time, its immunomodulatory effects may support restoration of the Th17\/Treg balance that is disrupted in Crohn\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to clinical evidence concerning healing of the intestinal wall, studies have specifically evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in patients with Crohn\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The findings have included increased regulatory T-cell activity, reductions in Th17 cells and lower levels of cytokines associated with Crohn\u2019s disease, including IL-17 and IL-23. These results suggest an immune-directed effect extending beyond a general anti-inflammatory action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This immunomodulatory mechanism may help explain why some patients with Crohn\u2019s disease who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy experienced longer periods of remission after completing treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When used within an autoimmune treatment framework for Crohn\u2019s disease, hyperbaric oxygen therapy focuses on immunomodulation: restoring the Th17\/Treg balance, reducing pathological intestinal immune activation and creating more favourable biological conditions for prolonged remission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is always used alongside and in support of biologic or immunomodulatory treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A typical treatment course consists of 20 to 40 sessions, planned in collaboration with the gastroenterologist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
How Is Crohn\u2019s Disease Treated? From an autoimmune perspective, Crohn\u2019s disease is treated as a disorder of the intestinal immune response. Instead of tolerating the … <\/p>\n