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Global REACH 2018: Characterizing Acid-Base Balance Over 21 Days at 4,300 m in Lowlanders.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Steele, AR; Ainslie, PN; Stone, R; Tymko, K; Tymko, C; Howe, CA; MacLeod, D; Anholm, JD; Gasho, C; Tymko, MM
Published in: High Alt Med Biol
June 2022

Steele, Andrew R., Philip N. Ainslie, Rachel Stone, Kaitlyn Tymko, Courtney Tymko, Connor A. Howe, David MacLeod, James D. Anholm, Christopher Gasho, and Michael M. Tymko. Global REACH 2018: characterizing acid-base balance over 21 days at 4,300 m in lowlanders. High Alt Med Biol. 23:185-191, 2022. Introduction: High altitude exposure results in hyperventilatory-induced respiratory alkalosis, followed by metabolic compensation to return arterial blood pH (pHa) toward sea level values. However, previous work has limited sample sizes, short-term exposure, and pharmacological confounders (e.g., acetazolamide). The purpose of this investigation was to characterize acid-base balance after rapid ascent to high altitude (i.e., 4,300 m) in lowlanders. We hypothesized that despite rapid bicarbonate ([HCO3-]) excretion during early acclimatization, partial respiratory alkalosis would still be apparent as reflected in elevations in pHa compared with sea level after 21 days of acclimatization to 4,300 m. Methods: In 16 (3 female) healthy volunteers not taking any medications, radial artery blood samples were collected and analyzed at sea level (150 m; Lima, Peru), and on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after rapid automobile (∼8 hours) ascent to high altitude (4,300 m; Cerro de Pasco, Peru). Results and Discussion: Although reductions in [HCO3-] occurred by day 3 (p < 0.01), they remained stable thereafter and were insufficient to fully normalize pHa back to sea level values over the subsequent 21 days (p < 0.01). These data indicate that only partial compensation for respiratory alkalosis persists throughout 21 days at 4,300 m.

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Published In

High Alt Med Biol

DOI

EISSN

1557-8682

Publication Date

June 2022

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

185 / 191

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Physiology
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Bicarbonates
  • Altitude
  • Alkalosis, Respiratory
  • Acid-Base Equilibrium
  • Acclimatization
  • 3208 Medical physiology
  • 1116 Medical Physiology
 

Citation

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Steele, A. R., Ainslie, P. N., Stone, R., Tymko, K., Tymko, C., Howe, C. A., … Tymko, M. M. (2022). Global REACH 2018: Characterizing Acid-Base Balance Over 21 Days at 4,300 m in Lowlanders. High Alt Med Biol, 23(2), 185–191. https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2021.0115
Steele, Andrew R., Philip N. Ainslie, Rachel Stone, Kaitlyn Tymko, Courtney Tymko, Connor A. Howe, David MacLeod, James D. Anholm, Christopher Gasho, and Michael M. Tymko. “Global REACH 2018: Characterizing Acid-Base Balance Over 21 Days at 4,300 m in Lowlanders.High Alt Med Biol 23, no. 2 (June 2022): 185–91. https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2021.0115.
Steele AR, Ainslie PN, Stone R, Tymko K, Tymko C, Howe CA, et al. Global REACH 2018: Characterizing Acid-Base Balance Over 21 Days at 4,300 m in Lowlanders. High Alt Med Biol. 2022 Jun;23(2):185–91.
Steele, Andrew R., et al. “Global REACH 2018: Characterizing Acid-Base Balance Over 21 Days at 4,300 m in Lowlanders.High Alt Med Biol, vol. 23, no. 2, June 2022, pp. 185–91. Pubmed, doi:10.1089/ham.2021.0115.
Steele AR, Ainslie PN, Stone R, Tymko K, Tymko C, Howe CA, MacLeod D, Anholm JD, Gasho C, Tymko MM. Global REACH 2018: Characterizing Acid-Base Balance Over 21 Days at 4,300 m in Lowlanders. High Alt Med Biol. 2022 Jun;23(2):185–191.
Journal cover image

Published In

High Alt Med Biol

DOI

EISSN

1557-8682

Publication Date

June 2022

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

185 / 191

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Physiology
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Bicarbonates
  • Altitude
  • Alkalosis, Respiratory
  • Acid-Base Equilibrium
  • Acclimatization
  • 3208 Medical physiology
  • 1116 Medical Physiology