Comparative study of acetazolamide and spironolactone on body fluid compartments on induction to high altitude

Plasma volume in acute hypoxia: comparison of a carbon monoxide rebreathing method and dye dilution with Evans' blue

“…Determined as the distribution volume of 125 I-labelled albumin, plasma volume in nine men had been reduced by 17% after 12 days at 3,500 m (Jain et al 1980). Using the same method, reductions in plasma volume of 8% and 11% have been found after 3 days and 12 days, respectively, in ten men transported to an altitude of 3,500 m (Singh et al 1986). With the use of Evans' blue, an increased plasma volume (15%) has been found in one person with moderate acute mountain sickness after 7 days at 4,950 m, whereas a reduction of 7% has been found in eight subjects who had only minor symptoms (Richalet et al 1983).…”

“…By the use of a radio-labelled erythrocyte methodology, Sawka et al (1996) have recently reported a decrease in plasma volume by appoximately 11% after arrival at 4,300 m. Our data obtained with the CO rebreathing method are in support of such a magnitude of plasma loss during early exposure to hypoxaemia. With more sustained hypoxaemia, the decrease in albumin distribution volume that has been observed (Surks et al 1966;Hannon et al 1969;Frayser et al 1975;Jain et al 1980Jain et al , 1981Richalet et al 1983;Singh et al 1986), could be secondary to acclimatisation processes producing a gradual return to Values are means with 95% con®dence intervals; *P < 0.05 compared with sea level Fig. 2 The ratio between the volume of distribution of albumin (PV Evans' ) and the plasma volume measured by a carbon monoxide (CO) rebreathing method (PV CO ) at sea level and at high altitude.…”

“…Body¯uid homeostasis has often been impaired during exposure to high altitude hypoxia (Hannon et al 1969;Singh et al 1986;Hoyt et al 1991). It has been reported that when determined by a dye dilution method with Evans' blue after 4 and 8 days at an altitude of 4,300 m, plasma volume in ®ve men had decreased by 13% and 19%, respectively (Surks et al 1966).…”

“…Determination of plasma volume in hypoxic environments has been the subject of many studies (Surks et al 1966;Hannon et al 1969;Frayser et al 1975;Jain et al 1980Jain et al , 1981Richalet et al 1983;Singh et al 1986;Hansen et al 1994). In all of these, the distribution volume of radio-labelled albumin or Evans' blue has been used as a marker of the plasma volume.…”

High altitude maladies: recent trends in medical management

“…Increased water retention in the extracellular compartment may be a predisposing etiological cause for the onset of symptoms of HAPO (Surks et al 1966;Hannon et al 1969;Singh et al 1986Singh et al , 1988Singh et al , 1990Hackett and Hornbein 1988).…”