Decompression Illness After Technical Diving Session in Mediterranean Sea: Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and HBO Therapy

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2024 Nov 9

PMID 39518919

Authors

Simona Mrakic-Sposta

Andrea Brizzolari

Alessandra Vezzoli

Carmela Graci

Attilio Cimmino

Tommaso Antonio Giacon

Cinzia Dellanoce

Alessandra Barassi

Giovanni Sesana

Gerardo Bosco

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

SCUBA diving poses risks due to pressure changes during descent (compression) and ascent (decompression). Decompression sickness (DCS) occurs due to gas bubble formation as the pressure decreases, causing joint pain, numbness, dizziness, or even paralysis and death. Immediate treatment involves 100% oxygen to help eliminate inert gases and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), which is essential to reduce gas emboli formation and inflammation, thus improving symptoms. We evaluated oxy-inflammation biomarkers in the saliva and urine of nine subjects pre- and post-technical dive on the Haven wreck (GE, Italy). A case of DCS occurred during the dive. The injured diver was treated immediately with O and transported to the hyperbaric center of "ASST Ospedale Ca Granda" in Milan. He was treated following the U.S. Navy Treatment Table 5 at 2.8 ATA and the day after with Table 15 at 2.4 ATA. Venous blood and urine samples were collected before and after each HBO treatment. Our study shows that dive increased oxy-inflammation biomarkers (ROS +126%; lipid peroxidation +23%; interleukins-6 +81%, -1β +19%, and TNFα +84%) and nitric oxide metabolites levels (+36%). HBOT after a DCS episode reduced oxidative stress, lowering the very high marker of lipid peroxidation (8-iso-PGF2α), and inhibited inflammatory interleukins. Overall, HBOT improved physiological responses in the diver affected by DCS.

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