Reduced coagulation at high alttitude identified by thromboeslastography


Martin, D.S., Pate, J.S., Vercueil, A., Doyle, P.W., Mythen, M.G. and Grocott, Michael P. W. The Caudwell Xtreme Everest Research Group (2012) Reduced coagulation at high alttitude identified by thromboeslastography. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 107, (6), 1066-1071. (doi:10.1160/TH12-01-0004). (PMID:22437051).

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Original Publication URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1160/TH12-01-0004

Description/Abstract

The impact of hypoxaemia on blood coagulation remains unclear despite use of a variety of measures to address the issue. We report the first use of thromboelastography (TEG) at high altitude to describe the dynamics of clot formation in whole blood samples. Seventeen healthy volunteers ascended to 5,300 m following an identical ascent profile; TEG measurements at 4,250 m and 5,300 m were compared with those from sea level. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and haematocrit were also measured. Ascent resulted in a decline in SpO2 from 97.8 (± 1.2) % at sea level to 86.9 (± 3.3) % at 4,250 m and 79.5 (± 5.8) % at 5,300 m (p<0.001); haematocrit rose from 43.7 (± 2.8) % at sea level, to 46.7 (± 3.9) % and 52.6 (± 3.2) % at 4,250 m and 5,300 m, respectively (p<0.01). TEG reaction (R)-time and kinetic (K)-time were both increased at 5,300 m compared to sea level, 8.95 (± 1.37) minutes (min) to 11.69 (± 2.91) min (p=0.016) and 2.40 (± 0.66) min to 4.99 (± 1.67) min (p<0.001), respectively. Additionally the alpha (α)- angle was decreased from 57.7 (± 8.2) to 51.6 (± 6.4) (p<0.001). There was no change in maximum amplitude (MA) on ascent to altitude. These changes are consistent with an overall pattern of slowed coagulation at high altitude.

Item Type: Article
ISSNs: 0340-6245 (print)
Related URLs:
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine > Infection, Inflammation and Immunity
Item ID: 341308
Date Deposited: 19 Jul 2012 08:40
Last Modified: 19 Jul 2012 08:40
Contributors: Martin, D.S. (Author)
Pate, J.S. (Author)
Vercueil, A. (Author)
Doyle, P.W. (Author)
Mythen, M.G. (Author)
Grocott, Michael P. W. (Author)
Date: June 2012
Status: Published
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/341308

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