Effect of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia on efficacy & clearance of drugs.

Background & Objectives: People travelling to high altitude for occupational, recreational or religious purposes are mostly healthy and fit but sometimes they use drugs for common ailments like influenza, acute mountain sickness or chronic disease like diabetes. Limitation of oxygen at high altitude may compromise metabolism of drugs. Hence, we undertook this study to assess the effect of hypobaric hypoxia on some commonly used drugs in rats and rabbits.

Effect of prolonged stay at high altitude on platelet aggregation and fibrinogen levels.

Increased liability for thrombosis has been suspected at high altitude. Platelet function and fibrinogen levels are known to play a major role in thrombogenic disorders. In order to investigate effect of chronic hypobaric hypoxia on platelet function and fibrinogen concentration, a study was conducted on 40 healthy men at sea level and following 3 and 13 months sojourn at high altitude (4100 m-4500 m).

Acclimatization to oxidative stress at high altitude.

Hypoxia-mediated oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of high altitude maladaptations. To explore whether prolonged exposure to high altitude can trigger an adaptive response to oxidative stress and restore redox homeostasis in the body, the study was conducted to evaluate biochemical variables related to oxidative stress and antioxidant status in humans at sea level (190 m) and following 3- and 13- month sojourns at altitude (4,500 m). After 3 months at altitude, whole-blood thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly higher (65.