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Oculometrics as a measure of altitude acclimatization of moderate‐altitude residents compared to sea‐level residents
Author(s) -
Cymerman Allen,
Muza Stephen R.,
Fulco Charles S.,
Friedlander Anne L.,
Elliott Leonard D.,
Zupan Michael F.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1431
Subject(s) - acclimatization , effects of high altitude on humans , altitude (triangle) , zoology , oxygen saturation , sea level , medicine , pulse oximetry , oxygen , anesthesia , biology , chemistry , ecology , anatomy , geography , mathematics , geometry , organic chemistry , physical geography
Acclimatization to high altitude (4300 m) is characterized by adaptive responses by the respiratory, circulatory, and central nervous systems. We demonstrated previously that oculometrics such as initial pupil diameter (IPD), constriction latency (CL), and saccadic velocity (SV) were acutely altered from baseline measures but returned to normal after ~6 d whereas constriction amplitude (CA) remained depressed for at least 12 d. To examine the relative effect of long‐term moderate altitude residence (U.S. Air Force Academy, AFA, 2200 m for > 3 months), oculometric measurements and pulse oximetry measurements were periodically made in 9 men and 7 women (mean±SE, 30.7±0.7 yrs) in residence at 4300 m (summit of Pikes Peak, PP) for 72 h). The only oculometric to be reduced from baseline was CA after 48 h at PP (1.27±0.65 vs 0.99±0.12 mm, p=0.03). Pulse oxygen saturation in altitude residents was reduced from 95.6±0.3% (AFA) to 86±0.6 after 21 h and 88.8±0.4 after 69 h at PP unlike sea‐level residents whose reductions remained much greater (p= 0.02) (99±0.2 %, SL and 82.6±1.5% after 21 h, 83.8±1.0 after 69 h at PP. The partial altitude acclimatization conferred by moderate altitude residence results in a relatively higher level of acclimatization to 4300 m than that demonstrated by sea‐level residents, as reflected by higher blood oxygen saturations and almost no disturbances in oculometrics. Supported by U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs