Natural killer cells as biomarkers of hyperbaric stress during a dry heliox saturation dive.

Introduction: Diving, hyperbaric oxygen, and decompression have been described as inducers of alterations in various components of the human immune system, such as the distribution of circulating lymphocytes. Hypothetically, the monitoring of specific lymphocyte subsets during hyperbaric exposure, including T- and NK-cell subsets, can serve as biomarkers of hyperbaric stress.

Methods: Eight experienced saturation divers and eight reference subjects, naive to deep saturation diving, were examined.