Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology. No curative therapy exists, thus management includes controlling of symptoms and prevention of complications. Ozonotherapy has multiple beneficial therapeutic effects which can translate into improving prognostic factors for SSc.
Aim: To evaluate the effect of ozone on selected factors of inflammation: serum concentration of the soluble receptor of interleukin-2 (IL-2 sR), neopterin as well as the peripheral blood smear in patients with SSc.
Material and methods: Forty-two patients with SSc underwent two series of 10-minute baths in water with a mixture of air and ozone separated by a 10-day period without treatment. Examinations were performed at baseline and 10 days after completing the last treatment.
Results: The mean concentration of IL-2 sR decreased significantly from 1563.73 to 1249.86 pg/ml. The mean concentration of neopterin decreased significantly from 12.06 to 10.9 nmol/ml. Absolute monocytosis decreased insignificantly from 1.694 to 1.480 G/l. Correlations between the disease duration and concentration of IL-2 sR were weak and negative, while between the disease duration and concentration of neopterin were weak and positive.
Conclusions: Ozonotherapy had a beneficial influence on the immune response in patients with scleroderma. Balneotherapy may be considered as an additional therapeutic option, but further research is required.
Keywords: balneotherapy; cellular response; ozone therapy; systemic sclerosis.