| Title: |
Microcirculatory and Rheological Adaptive Mechanisms at High Altitude in European Lowlander Hikers and Nepalese Highlanders |
| Authors: |
Salvi P.; Grillo A.; Brunacci F.; Severi F.; Montaguti L.; Gautier S.; Salvi L.; Pretolani E.; Parati G.; Benetos A. |
| Contributors: |
Salvi, P; Grillo, A; Brunacci, F; Severi, F; Montaguti, L; Gautier, S; Salvi, L; Pretolani, E; Parati, G; Benetos, A |
| Publisher Information: |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI); CH |
| Publication Year: |
2023 |
| Collection: |
Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca: BOA (Bicocca Open Archive) |
| Subject Terms: |
acute mountain sickne; blood viscosity; cardiovascular risk; chronic mountain sickne; erythrocyte deformability; haemorheology; high altitude; microcirculation |
| Description: |
Background: Physical activity at high-altitudes is increasingly widespread, both for tourist trekking and for the growing tendency to carry out sports and training activities at high-altitudes. Acute exposure to this hypobaric–hypoxic condition induces several complex adaptive mechanisms involving the cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine systems. A lack of these adaptive mechanisms in microcirculation may cause the onset of symptoms of acute mountain sickness, a frequent disturbance after acute exposure at high altitudes. The aim of our study was to evaluate the microcirculatory adaptive mechanisms at different altitudes, from 1350 to 5050 m a.s.l., during a scientific expedition in the Himalayas. Methods: The main haematological parameters, blood viscosity and erythrocyte deformability were assessed at different altitudes on eight European lowlanders and on a group of eleven Nepalese highlanders. The microcirculation network was evaluated in vivo by conjunctival and periungual biomicroscopy. Results: Europeans showed a progressive and significant reduction of blood filterability and an increase of whole blood viscosity which correlate with the increase of altitude (p < 0.02). In the Nepalese highlanders, haemorheological changes were already present at their residence altitude, 3400 m a.s.l. (p < 0.001 vs. Europeans). With the increase in altitude, a massive interstitial oedema appeared in all participants, associated with erythrocyte aggregation phenomena and slowing of the flow rate in the microcirculation. Conclusions: High altitude causes important and significant microcirculatory adaptations. These changes in microcirculation induced by hypobaric–hypoxic conditions should be considered when planning training and physical activity at altitude. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
ELETTRONICO |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/37109209; info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:000978969800001; volume:12; issue:8; journal:JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE; https://hdl.handle.net/10281/530043 |
| DOI: |
10.3390/jcm12082872 |
| Availability: |
https://hdl.handle.net/10281/530043; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12082872 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; license:Creative Commons ; license uri:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.A2D2ED22 |
| Database: |
BASE |