ultiple Sclerosis is a disease of the nervous system that results in localised patches of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord which may eventually scar (sclerosis).

In 1983 the New England Journal of Medicine reported a controlled, double-blind study on the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. It reported scientifically demonstrated benefits but recognised the need for long-term studies.

After a pilot study had confirmed this report, patients and their relatives installed pressure chambers in 56 Centres throughout the UK. Since 1982 over 12,000 UK patients have received HBOT. In most, an initial intensive course has been followed by intermittent maintenance treatment. Well over a million individual sessions have been completed without untoward incident.

It is difficult to assess the effect of any treatment on MS patients because of the unpredictable fluctuation of signs and symptoms. One authority considers that the best experimental design is to observe a large number of patients treated over a period of time. MS National therefore followed the progress of 703 patients who had first received treatment soon after the centres opened.

They were recruited from those attending 28 of the Centres. Details are given in Table 1.

Patients had been told that they had multiple sclerosis by neurologists who had said that there is no effective treatment for their condition. The co-operation of the patient’s family doctor had been obtained before they were accepted for treatment.

During HBO treatments, patients breathed 100% oxygen under pressure in HBO chambers. The initial course of treatment consisted of twenty sessions in 4 weeks. Thereafter, the patients returned for a ‘follow-on’ treatment on a weekly basis, or failing that, as often as they felt the need or found it possible.