We prove that, if A denotes a topologically simple real (non-associative) H*-algebra, then either A is a topologically simple complex H*-algebra regarded as real H*-algebra or there is a topologically simple complex H*-algebra B with *-involution τ such that A = {b ∈ B : τ(b) = b*}. Using this, we obtain our main result, namely: (algebraically) isomorphic topologically simple real H*-algebras are actually *-isometrically isomorphic.

Let $\mathscr{H}$ be an infinite-dimensional complex Hilbert space and $𝔄$ be a standard operator algebra on $\mathscr{H}$ which is closed under the adjoint operation. It is shown that every nonlinear $*$-Lie higher derivation $𝒟={\left\{{\delta }_n\right\}}_{n\in \mathbb{N}}$ of $𝔄$ is automatically an additive higher derivation on $𝔄$. Moreover, $𝒟={\left\{{\delta }_n\right\}}_{n\in \mathbb{N}}$ is an inner $*$-higher derivation.