Abstract
BackgroundWhether lung fluid accumulates in acclimating individuals at high altitude (HA) remains controversial.PurposeTo assess the effect of HA on lung fluid regulation.Methods/ResultsSystolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) (echo), lung diffusing capacity for CO (DLCO), pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc), alveolar‐capillary conductance (Dm) (single breath method), ultrasound lung comets (ULCs) and pulmonary function (PFTs) were assessed in 8 healthy adults at sea‐level and after 1 and 9 days at Mt. Everest Base Camp (EBC), Nepal (5150 m). Also, after 5 days at EBC, DLCO and PFTs were assessed in 5 subjects pre‐and post‐acute albuterol administration. EBC was reached after an 8 d hike at progressively increasing altitudes starting at 2800 m. Altitude exposure increased sPAP, had no effect on DLCO, increased Dm and decreased Vc with a subsequent increase in Dm/Vc, and decreased the number of ULCs (Table 1). There was no change in FVC or FEV1 but an increase in MEF50. Albuterol administration increased PEF (11.85±1.52 vs. 12.40±1.45 L/s) and MEF50 (4.85±0.77 vs. 6.00±1.30 L/s) but had no effect on DLCO, Dm or Dm/Vc.ConclusionThese data suggest that lung fluid is decreased in acclimating healthy humans at high altitude.Funding:Mayo Clinic & The North Face.
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