Hydrogen inhalation promotes recovery of a patient in persistent vegetative state from intracerebral hemorrhage: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND Persistent vegetative state (PVS) is a devastating and long-lasting clinical condition with high morbidity and mortality; currently, there are no available effective interventions. CASE SUMMARY We report the case of an 11-year-old boy with PVS caused by severe intracerebral bleeding in the left hemisphere following anticoagulation treatment. The patient's PVS severity showed no notable improvement after 2-mo neuroprotective treatment and rehabilitation, including nerve growth factor and baclofen, hyperbaric oxygen, and comprehensive bedside rehabilitation therapies. Daily inhalation treatment (4-6 h) of high-concentration hydrogen (H-2) gas (66.6% H-2 + 33.3% O-2) was provided. Surprisingly, the patient's orientation, consciousness, ability to speak, facial expressions, and locomotor function were significantly restored, along with improvements in essential general health status, after H-2 gas inhalation treatment, which was consistent with stabilized neuropathology in the left hemisphere and increased Hounsfield unit values of computed tomography in the right hemisphere. The patient finally recovered to a near normal conscious state with a Coma Recovery Scale-Revised Score of 22 from his previous score of 3. CONCLUSION Phase 1 clinical trials are needed to explore the safety and efficacy of H-2 gas inhalation in patients with PVS.

Automated summary

This study reports a case of an 11-year-old boy with persistent vegetative state (PVS), and observed significant improvements in the patient's recovery after high-concentration hydrogen gas inhalation treatment. This provides a new approach and potential for the treatment of PVS.