title: The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on kidneys in a rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is used for treating various medical conditions. As far as known yet, HBOT is safe with few major side effects that are easy to avoid using a proper protocol. Renal tubular damage was observed in rats exposed to HBOT in a preliminary study conducted in our institution. Aim. We aim to assess whether HBOT causes renal damage and, if so, whether this is dose dependent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one rats were randomly assigned to three groups. The first group received 10-days HBOT, 100% oxygen at a pressure of 2 atmospheres absolute (2 ATA) for 60 minutes/day, the second received the same treatment for 5 days and the third served as the control. Rat weight, survival, renal function tests, and renal histopathology were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant changes in renal function tests in the plasma (cystatin C, urea, creatinine, and electrolytes) between the groups. No significant differences were observed in weight gain or renal histopathological evaluation between all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBOT in this protocol does not cause renal impairment in a rat model, which reinforces the assumption that HBOT is safe in healthy rats, regarding renal function. Further research should be focused on the effect/safety of HBOT on nonhealthy kidneys.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Division, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, 70300 Zerifin, Israel.
authors.forename: Matitiahu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berkovitch
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Division, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, 70300 Zerifin, Israel.
authors.forename: Roni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tsadik
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Division, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, 70300 Zerifin, Israel.
authors.forename: Eran
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1255-804X
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kozer
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Division, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, 70300 Zerifin, Israel.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abu-Kishk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen