Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is successfully applied for a wide variety of diseases. However, recent studies in humans undergoing hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy have revealed that HBO is able to induce genotoxic effects especially in lymphocytes while the biological significance of tlıis outcome is stili not clear. HBO mediated genotoxicity in lymphocytes has been determined by using the in vitro Cytokinesis Block Micronucleus (MN) test in patients undergoing HBO therapy. Blood samples were obtained from 100 voluntary patients and were drawn by venipuncture before and immediately after the fırst session of HBO treatment. MN frequencies were signifıcantly increased after the first session of HBO treatment. According to the MN test results, it is observed that HBO treatment can increase the clastogenic effects.
Keywords: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Genotoxicity, Micronucleus test