Subclinical elevated B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) indicates endothelial dysfunction contributing to hypoxia susceptibility in healthy individuals.

Aims: Baseline elevated B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) has been found in high altitude pulmonary edema susceptible population. Exaggerated pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia may be related to endothelial dysfunction in hypoxia susceptible. We hypothesize that baseline BNP levels can predict hypoxia susceptibility in healthy individuals.

Elevated pulmonary artery pressure and brain natriuretic peptide in high altitude pulmonary edema susceptible non-mountaineers.

Exaggerated pulmonary pressor response to hypoxia is a pathgonomic feature observed in high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) susceptible mountaineers. It was investigated whether measurement of basal pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) could improve identification of HAPE susceptible subjects in a non-mountaineer population. We studied BNP levels, baseline hemodynamics and the response to hypoxia (FIo2 = 0.

Maximum exercise responses of men and women mountaineering trainees on induction to high altitude (4350 m) by trekking.

Objective: Maximum aerobic capacity decreases at high altitude. This study was conducted to compare the changes in maximum aerobic capacity in men and women mountaineering trainees on induction to high altitude at 4350 m by trekking.

Methods: Eight men and 8 women mountaineering trainees in a mountaineering course were selected for the study.

Hypoxic ventilatory response changes of men and women 6 to 7 days after climbing from 2100 m to 4350 m altitude and after descent.

To test the hypothesis that the changes in hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) of men and women mountaineers on induction to HA by trekking is not influenced by gender, isocapnic HVR as DeltaV(E)/DeltaSa(O2) was studied in eight men and eight women mountaineering trainees initially at 2100 m, then during 6 to 7 days of sojourn at 4350 m, and retested again on return to 2100 m. Results indicated that HVR at 2100 m increased significantly at 4350 m in both sexes, and the values reverted to baseline level within 4 to 5 days between leaving high altitude (4350 m) and restudy at 2100 m. No sex differences were observed at 2100- or at 4350-m altitude, indicating that men and women have a similar level of chemosensitive response as measured by HVR during induction to HA.