Molecular Hydrogen Application in Stroke: Bench to Bedside.

Abstract

Stroke remains a leading contributor to global mortality and long-term disability, with few established interventions available. This review consolidates findings from both preclinical animal models and clinical investigations examining the effects of molecular hydrogen on stroke outcomes. The authors discuss neuroprotective mechanisms relevant to stroke pathology, positioning molecular hydrogen as a candidate medical gas with potential neurological applications. Both experimental evidence and early clinical data are synthesized to evaluate the translational prospects of hydrogen-based approaches in stroke.

Mechanism

Molecular hydrogen is proposed to exert neuroprotection primarily through selective scavenging of highly reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite, thereby reducing oxidative damage in stroke-affected neural tissue.