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Changes of coagulation parameters during high altitude expedition
Jacqueline Pichler Hefti1, Lorenz Risch, Urs Hefti
1Center of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland.
Swiss Medical Weekly
|December 2, 2009
Summary
High-altitude expeditions reveal significant changes in blood coagulation. While no direct link to acute mountain sickness was found, specific parameters correlated with ascent protocols and summit success.
Area of Science:
- High-altitude physiology
- Hemostasis and thrombosis
- Mountain medicine
Background:
- Limited data exists on hemostatic changes above 5000m.
- The role of altered coagulation in acute mountain sickness (AMS) remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in coagulation parameters during high-altitude exposure.
- To explore potential links between these changes and AMS.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-four healthy mountaineers were studied during an expedition to 7549m.
- Hemostatic markers (PT, aPTT, D-Dimer, APCR, RCo, ADAMTS-13, CNP) and AMS scores were measured up to 6865m.
Main Results:
- D-Dimer, PT, and aPTT increased significantly with altitude.
- APC-Resistance (APCR) and von Willebrand Factor activity (RCo) decreased significantly.
- No correlation was found between hemostatic parameters and AMS scores.
- Higher RCo and lower ADAMTS-13 were observed with faster ascent protocols.
Conclusions:
- Hypobaric hypoxia significantly alters coagulation parameters.
- No direct association between coagulation changes and AMS was identified.
- Specific hemostatic markers may relate to acclimatization strategies and ascent success.
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