Inhaling Hydrogen May Help Reduce Lung Damage

Inhaling small amounts of hydrogen in addition to concentrated oxygen may help stem the damage to lung tissue that can occur when critically ill patients are given oxygen for long periods of time, according to a rat model study.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh (PA, USA) assigned male rats to four experimental groups: rats exposed to high concentrations of oxygen and either 2% nitrogen or 2% hydrogen, and rats given normal levels of oxygen and either 2% nitrogen or 2% hydrogen; exposure periods for all groups were 60 hours. Lung function was evaluated by blood gas analysis of the arterial blood, and body weight, lung fluid volume, inflammatory cell count in lung fluids, and heme-oxygenase (HO-1)--an enzyme that protects lung cells--levels were also measured.

The researchers found that when comparing oxygen exposure groups to controls, 2% nitrogen with 98% oxygen for 60 hours markedly impaired lung function and caused inflammation and a build-up of fluid in the lung. In contrast, rats exposed to 2% hydrogen with 98% oxygen had less swelling and improved lung function, as well as significant reductions in inflammation compared to controls. In addition, levels of HO-1 were elevated in rats exposed to hydrogen. The results of the study were presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2011 international conference, held during May 2011 in Denver (CO, USA).

"Hydrogen has a therapeutic potential not only in treating acute lung injury, but also in treating chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is the fourth leading cause of death in the US,” said lead author research fellow Tomohiro Kawamura, MD. "Hydrogen may help prevent progression of COPD, which could have a huge impact on treatment. Administering hydrogen treatment by providing gas for the patients to inhale is straightforward and may be feasible in clinical practice in the future.”

Highly concentrated oxygen is routinely administered to critically ill patients who cannot breathe efficiently, such as patients with severe heart or lung disease. Given over a prolonged period, oxygen toxicity can occur, causing severe lung injury, which can lead to respiratory failure.

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