Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis (HBOT-UC)

NCT05987852 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 126

Last updated 2026-01-08

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Chronic intestinal hypoxia and accompanying mucosal inflammation is a hallmark of ulcerative colitis (UC). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing 100% oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure to increase tissue oxygenation. Two small prospective randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that the delivery of HBOT to UC patients hospitalized for acute moderate to severe flares results in improved remission rates and avoidance of in-hospital progression to biologics, small molecules, or colectomy. In this larger trial the study aims to confirm the treatment benefits of HBOT for hospitalized UC patients and study the immune-microbe mechanisms underpinning treatment response.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Participants enrolled in the active intervention group receiving HBOT will undergo compression to 2.4 Atmospheres Absolute (ATA; 100% O2) for 90 minutes with two 5-10 minute "air breaks" (breathing room air at the 2.4 ATA) during the session. This is done once a day for 5 days.

OTHER

Sham Hyperbaric Air

This control arm will undergo compression to 1.34 ATA for monoplace chambers and 2.4 ATA for multiplace chambers for the full 90-minute session but 21% oxygen instead of 100% oxygen being administered. These participants will also have two 5-10 minute "air breaks" to mimic the treatment protocol. Multiplace sham sessions will have modified air breaks to avoid decompression sickness. This will happen once a day for 5 days.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

    collaborator NIH
  • Northwestern University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Lauren Balmert Bonner, PhD · Northwestern University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
85 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-01-09
Primary Completion
2027-09-01
Completion
2027-09-01
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05987852 on ClinicalTrials.gov