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Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04472780
Enrollment
80
Registered
2020-07-15
Start date
2019-06-01
Completion date
2021-10-01
Last updated
2021-09-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Child Autism

Keywords

ASD - HBOT -

Brief summary

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is part of a multidisciplinary therapeutic management of infant autism including psychotherapy, drug treatment and other therapeutics (speech therapy, occupational therapy restrictive diet ...). It has been postulated that children with autism may benefit from HBOT due to the potential increase in cerebral perfusion occurring during treatment. In fact, inhaling oxygen above atmospheric pressure could cause an increase in the arterial partial pressure of oxygen, leading to increased oxygen supply to the brain. HBO may also have anti-inflammatory properties due to the reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor -α, interferon-γ and interleukins1 and 6). In addition, HBOT could improve mitochondrial dysfunction effects, as well as upregulate the production of antioxidant enzymes.Thus, hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be tried among the therapeutic arsenal of adjuvant treatments for autism.

Detailed description

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication and social interactions. People with ASD often exhibit difficult behaviors, including aggressiveness, temper tantrums, irritability, hyperactivity, inattention, impulsivity, self-harm .. The increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (approximately 1%) has increased the need for evidence-based treatment to lessen the impact of symptoms. The ethiopathogenesis of ASD has so far been unclear. Current pathophysiological theories have demonstrated the presence of cerebral hypo-perfusion, neuro-inflammation, immune dysregulation and oxidative stress involved in the genesis of this disorder. Based on its anti-inflammatory effects and increased amount of dissolved oxygen, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been tried as one of the therapeutic arsenals of adjuvant therapy for autism. This is a randomized controlled study including nearly 80 patients with ASD who underwent clinical and neuropsychological evaluation before and after HBOT treatment as well as the dosage of the various biochemical and immunological markers. These markers will be assessed before and after the HBOT. Perfusion MRI would also be performed before and after HBO.

Interventions

DEVICEHyperbaric oxygen Therapy HBOT

HBOT therapy protocol: in an eight-seat hyperbaric chamber 40 sessions of HBOT duration: 1 hour rhythm: 5 sessions / week pressure: 1.7 ATA (7 meters) O2 concentration: 100%

Sponsors

Military Hospital of Tunis
CollaboratorOTHER
General Administration of Military Health, Tunisia
Lead SponsorNETWORK

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Randomized controlled study

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
4 Years to 14 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* All children aged 4 to 14 years who were followed in the child psychiatry unit during the study period and who were identified as having a diagnosis of ASD. This diagnosis was made by child psychiatrists experienced in autism using the DSM-5 criteria and the ADI and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) Criteria for non-inclusion : * Children with hearing or visual impairments * Children with unbalanced epilepsy * Children with a contraindication to HBOT * Dysfunction of the immune system

Exclusion criteria

-Child that havent completed entire protocol

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
clinical severity assesement03 monthsEvaluate the interest of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of ASD using CARS (child autism rating scale)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
dosage of Inetreleukine 603 monthsEvaluate the effect of HBOT on pro-inflammatory cytokines by Immunoassays: IL6
dosage of TNFα03 monthsEvaluate the effect of HBOT on pro-inflammatory cytokines by Immunoassays: TNFα
Oxidatif stress profil03 monthsEvaluate the effect of HBOT on the level of oxidative stress BY Biochemical dosages: Total antioxidant status (SAT)
dosage of Glutathione peroxidase03 monthsEvaluate the effect of HBOT on the level of oxidative stress BY Biochemical dosages: Glutathione peroxidase

Countries

Tunisia

Contacts

Primary ContactHedi Gharsallah, Doctor
gharsallahhedi@gmail.com71391885
Backup ContactHela Slama, Doctor
slamahela2003@yahoo.fr29407348

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026