Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Effect in COVID-19 RCT (HBOTCOVID19) (HBOTCOVID19)

The 2019-20 coronavirus disease, caused by COVID-19, is an ongoing pandemic.So far, no specific treatment has proven efficacy. Recent case series reported the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) on 5 severe COVID-19 patients who developed respiratory insufficiency. HBOT mechanisms of tissue oxygenation and anti-inflammatory effect may explain these findings.

The purpose of the current study is the evaluate the efficacy of HBOT in moderate-severe COVID-19 patients in a randomized controlled manner.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: COVID-19; Desaturation of Blood
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Detailed Description

The 2019-20 coronavirus disease, caused by COVID-19, is an ongoing pandemic. The outbreak started in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, in December 2019 and the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized it as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. Up to Apr 9. 2020 there are more than 2 million confirmed cases, and over 140,000 deaths. In Israel, COVID-19 was confirmed in more 12,000 cases and took the life of 140 victims. There are 323 mild admitted cases, 170 moderate admitted cases and 170 severe admitted cases (16.04.2020) .

Even though the general mortality rate is low (0.2-7%, country based), patients who develop Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) have a significantly higher mortality rate, up to 61-90%. COVID-19 ARDS is different, causing a rapidly progressive disease including respiratory insufficiency and pulmonary fibrosis. The mechanism behind isn't clear yet, but evidence points to the direction of an acute cytokines storm which include: IL-2, IL-7, GCSF, InterferonGamma, TNF-alpha, Macrophage chemoattractant protein . Poor prognosis include high levels of IL-6 and Ferritin.

More than 160 clinical trials have been registered, but as of April 2020, there is no proven effective treatment.

The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) includes breathing 100% oxygen in pressures higher than 1 absolute atmospheres (ATA), increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved in the plasma and the different tissues. In the last month, Chen et al. reported a case series of 5 severe COVID-19 patients treated with 3-8 HBOT sessions in addition to the standard therapy. In all cases, they reported an increase in oxygen saturation, arterial oxygen content,lactate levels reduction,fibrinogen levels decrease and increase in lymphocytes number.In addition, the patients chest CT showed improved signs. Symptomatic relief started following the 2nd session. No significant adverse events were reported.

These findings may be explained by the known physiological effects of HBOT, related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus pathogenesis:

1. Increased competitive binding of oxygen to the hemoglobin molecule - it has been postulated recently the SARS-CoV-2 bind to the heme component in the hemoglobin molecule and reduces the oxygen affinity to hemoglobin. During HBOT, the increased amount of available oxygen molecules increases the binding to the hemoglobin molecules. This has shown significant beneficial effects in cases of another competitive molecule such as carbon monoxide intoxication.
2. Tissue oxygenation - The oxygen content in the different tissues is multiplied by 25-30 times. This effect has two therapeutic aspects: First, overcoming pulmonary hypoxia (either shunt or VQ mismatch) by increasing the FiO2 significantly. By increasing the pulmonary oxygen gradient, oxygen diffusion increases and can overcome the inflammation in the alveoli and the thickened fibrosis caused by ARDS. Second, during HBOT, the amount of oxygen dissolved in the plasma becomes significant and enables tissue oxygenation without the need of red blood cells.
3. Anti inflammatory - HBOT reduces the following inflammatory cytokines both in the protein level and genes expression (mRNA): IL-2, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1beta. The anti-inflammatory effect has been shown in chronic diseases as well as models of acute infection and massive hemorrhage.

The purpose of the current study is the evaluate the efficacy of HBOT in moderate-severe COVID-19 patients in a randomized controlled manner.

Protocol

Due to the national IRB requirements the protocol includes 2 phases:

The first phase includes 5 patients who following signing an informed consent will be treated with 8 sessions of HBOT , 2 sessions per day, in 4 consecutive days. During the sessions, the symptoms and vitals will be monitored. 1 day following the last session, revaluation will be performed.

The second phase will include 24 patients, who following signing an informed consent, will be randomized 2:1 to hyperbaric oxygen therapy group and standard of care control group. Following the randomization the patients will undergo baseline evaluation including symptoms, vitals, pulmonary function and blood tests The ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2 in mmHg) to fractional inspired oxygen at 5 days after enrollment was determined as the primary endpoint of the study. However, the ability to draw arterial blood gases with full COVID-19 protection gear was found to be challenging, more than usual inconvenient to the patients and many of the patients asked to avoid it (especially the draw of second arterial blood gas). Therefore, this endpoint was not completed and changed from the original protocol.

. The HBOT group patients will undergo 8 sessions of either hyperbaric oxygen therapy, 2 sessions per day, in 4 consecutive days. During the sessions, the symptoms and vitals will be monitored. 1 day following the last session, revaluation will be performed.

The control group will continue standard of care and undergo similar vitals and symptoms monitoring. 5 days after baseline evaluation, revaluation will be performed.

The long 30 days outcomes of both groups will be collected.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Israel
  • Ẕerifin, Israel
    • Amir Hadanny

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Within 7 days of patient's need of oxygen supply
• Positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR
• At least one risk factor for bad prognosis of COVID-19: Moderate-severe Asthma, Diabetes mellitus, Cardiac conditions (congestive heart failure, coronary disease, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension), severe obesity (BMI>40), age>65, immunodeficiency, chronic liver disease.
• Respiratory insufficiency : Room Air SpO2 <94% or PaO2/FiO2<300mmHg
• Age>18
• Ability to sign an informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• HBOT contraindication: pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, claustrophobia, ear/sinus disease which aren't allowed in HBOT, known chronic pulmonary disease: severe emphysema or known pulmonary bullae.
• Pregnancy
• Inability to sign an informed consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control; Standard of care
Active Comparator: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy; 8 sessions in 4 days hyperbaric oxygen therapy	Device: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy; 8 sessions in 4 days of breathing 100% oxygen in 2.2 ATA. Each session is 60 minutes. 1 meter/minute compression/decompression

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
SpO2	Oxygen saturation measured in % by oxygen apparatus	5 days after randomization
NEWS Score	Early Warning Score (NEWS) calculated by the patient's vitals and condition	5 days after randomization
Inflammation level -CRP	blood CRP level	5 days after randomization
white blood cells number	white blood cells number	5 days after randomization
Cytokines - IL1	blood IL1 level	5 days after randomization
Cytokines - IL2	blood IL2 level	5 days after randomization
Cytokines - IL6	blood IL6 level	5 days after randomization
Cytokines - IL10	blood IL10 level	5 days after randomization
Cytokines - TNFalpha	blood TNFalpha level	5 days after randomization
Inflammation level - procalcitonin	blood procalcitonin level	5 days after randomization
Inflammation level - ferritin	blood ferritin level	5 days after randomization

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Symptoms level	Patient's reported symptoms including cough, dyspnea, etc.	5 days after randomization
Number of patients with IgM seroconversion	number of patients who developed SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibodies	5 days after randomization
Number of patients with IgG seroconversion	number of patients who developed SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies	5 days after randomization
FEV1/FVC	Pulmonary function tests performed bedside	5 days after randomization
Time to symptoms recovery	The measured time the patient suffered symptoms until complete recovery	Within 30 days
Number of patients who required invasive ventilation	The number of patients who required invasive ventilation during the trial	Within 30 days
Time to negative virus PCR	The measured time until the patient had two negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR	Within 30 days
Mortality rate	The number of patients who died	Within 30 days
Number of barotrauma events (safety)	The number of adverse events in each arm	5 days after randomization

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Amir Hadanny, MD, Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Mehta P, McAuley DF, Brown M, Sanchez E, Tattersall RS, Manson JJ; HLH Across Speciality Collaboration, UK. COVID-19: consider cytokine storm syndromes and immunosuppression. Lancet. 2020 Mar 28;395(10229):1033-1034. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30628-0. Epub 2020 Mar 16. No abstract available.
• Goh KJ, Choong MC, Cheong EH, Kalimuddin S, Duu Wen S, Phua GC, Chan KS, Haja Mohideen S. Rapid Progression to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Review of Current Understanding of Critical Illness from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2020 Mar 16;49(3):108-118.
• Rogatsky GG, Mayevsky A. The life-saving effect of hyperbaric oxygenation during early-phase severe blunt chest injuries. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2007 Mar-Apr;34(2):75-81.
• Weaver LK, Hopkins RO, Chan KJ, Churchill S, Elliott CG, Clemmer TP, Orme JF Jr, Thomas FO, Morris AH. Hyperbaric oxygen for acute carbon monoxide poisoning. N Engl J Med. 2002 Oct 3;347(14):1057-67. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa013121.
• Ruan Q, Yang K, Wang W, Jiang L, Song J. Clinical predictors of mortality due to COVID-19 based on an analysis of data of 150 patients from Wuhan, China. Intensive Care Med. 2020 May;46(5):846-848. doi: 10.1007/s00134-020-05991-x. Epub 2020 Mar 3. No abstract available.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 30, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 15, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 21, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 21, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): April 24, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 21, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 16, 2026
• Last Verified: November 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; COVID-19; Therapeutics; Respiratory Therapy; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Hyperbaric Oxygenation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0120-20-ASF

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Sharing upon specific requests will be considered
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Within 1 month of request
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Specific requests
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No