The effectiveness of intermittent hyperbaric oxygen in relieving drug-induced HIV-associated neuropathy.

This 3-month study evaluated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on drug-induced neuropathies in 22 patients with human immunodeficiency virus. All patients included in the study had been taking an antiretroviral medication for at least 12 months and had subjective symptoms of numbness or tingling, lethargy, and a decrease in deep tendon reflex. Patients with an active substance abuse history or Kaposi's sarcoma were excluded. Of the 20 patients who completed the series, 17 had significant improvement, 2 had a demyelinating disorder that may have affected the outcome, and 1 had no change.