Dihydrogen inhalation in the Management of Patients with Moderate Oxygen-Requiring COVID19: Towards an Innovative Therapy
Author(s): Cordélia Salomez-Ihl, Joris Giai, Mathieu Roustit, François Boucher, Philippe Cinquin, Jean-Paul Brion
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in a substantial global health crisis, with millions of deaths reported since its initial discovery in China in November 2019. The global variability in immunization access underscores the critical necessity for ongoing research into therapeutic strategies.
This study explores the application of molecular dihydrogen (H2) inhalation as a potential adjuvant treatment for Covid-19. H2 therapy has shown promise in inhibiting inflammation-related intracellular signaling pathways, particularly when administered early in conjunction with nasal oxygen therapy.
Presented here are two cases from an ongoing phase one study evaluating the safety and Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT) of H2 therapy delivered via a nasal cannula in addition to conventional oxygen therapy for Covid-19 patients requiring nasal oxygen (1 to 6 L/min). Tolerance was excellent in both cases, with no adverse events attributed to H2 reported.
Patient 1, a 56-year-old man, and Patient 2, a 59-year-old woman, exhibited positive responses to the H2 therapy, demonstrating improvements of O2 saturation and a decrease in C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels. The gas mixture's safety and efficacy were supported by clinical and biological observations, aligning with existing literature on H2's anti-inflammatory effects.
This preliminary study suggests that inhaled H2, administered alongside oxygen therapy, may expedite the clinical improvement of pulmonary SARS-CoV-2 disease, potentially preventing Intensive Care Unit (ICU) transfers. The positive outcomes observed in these cases warrant further investigation in larger, controlled clinical trials.