Biney Isaac, Dudney Tina, Goldman Mitchell, Carder Lee, Schriver Elise
Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA.
Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA.
Case Rep Pulmonol. 2020 Feb 24;2020:4750375. doi: 10.1155/2020/4750375. eCollection 2020.
Skin ulcers are a common complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc) that can significantly impact the quality of life. There have been recent reports on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the management of nonhealing systemic sclerosis skin ulcers. The effect of HBOT on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), another common and potentially life-threatening complication of SSc, is unclear with literature on the subject lacking. We present the case of a 65-year-old female with limited SSc complicated by severe PAH and a nonhealing left lower extremity venous ulcer. HBOT was successfully used as an adjunct in her management resulting in complete resolution of the venous ulcer and improved quality of life without any adverse effects on her pulmonary arterial hypertension.