Johnson-Arbor K, Verstraete R, et al.
BMJ case reports. Date of publication 2021 Apr 12;volume 14(4):.
1. BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Apr 12;14(4):e240619. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-240619.
Use of hyperbaric oxygenation as an adjunctive treatment for severe pernicious
anaemia in a bloodless medicine patient.
Johnson-Arbor K(1)(2), Verstraete R(3).
Author information:
(1)Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown
University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA kkja@me.com.
(2)MedStar Institute for Quality and Safety, Washington, DC, USA.
(3)Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Program, MedStar Georgetown University
Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Severe anaemia in patients who cannot receive blood transfusion is an indication
for the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). Most reports of the use of HBO
for anaemia involve patients with acute blood loss. This report details a case
of HBO used for a patient with severe pernicious anaemia. A 35-year-old
Jehovah's Witnesses believer presented to a hospital with fatigue, dyspnoea and
haemoglobin of 26 g/L. She was diagnosed with pernicious anaemia. As she could
not receive blood transfusion due to her religious beliefs, vitamin B12
supplementation and HBO were administered and resulted in significant
improvement in her condition. The mechanisms of action of HBO, including
increased systemic plasma oxygenation, can alleviate signs and symptoms of
anaemia regardless of its aetiology. HBO administration can greatly enhance the
plasma arterial oxygen content, leading to clinical improvement in patients with
anaemia who cannot receive blood transfusion.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and
permissions. Published by BMJ.
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-240619
PMCID: PMC8048014
PMID: 33846184 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
Conflict of interest statement: Competing interests: None declared.
