Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and substance-P as predictors for early-stage diagnosis of acute mountain sickness

Although acute mountain sickness (AMS) can be a life-threatening condition, early diagnosis is difficult due to vague and non-specific symptoms. The aim of this study is to investigate biochemical markers that can detect high-altitude diseases in advance. Eight different biomarkers (BNP, HIF-1α, NGAL, MMP-3, MMP-9, SESN2, substance P (SP), and U-II) were studied, and their relationship with AMS was investigated.

Of the 84 mountaineers who participated in the mountaineering training organized by the Turkish Mountaineering Federation in the Rize Kaçkar Mountains in 2018, 52 volunteered to participate in the study. Twelve hours after the participants reached an altitude of 2200 m (exposed to moderate hypoxia), their vital parameters were measured, and blood samples were taken for biochemistry tests. Vital signs and Lake Louise (LL) AMS scores were recorded every 24 h during the following 72 h. The participants were divided into two groups according to their LL scores: those with AMS and those without (AMS+ and AMS -), and the vital parameters and biomarker levels of both groups were compared and evaluated.

Of the volunteers participating in the study, 35 (67.3%) were male and 17 (32.7%) were female, although there was no gender difference in terms of susceptibility to AMS. Among the investigated markers in the AMS + group, MMP-9 and SP were statistically significantly higher (p = 0.037 and p = 0.038, respectively). There were no statistical differences between AMS- and AMS+ groups with regard to heart rate, oxygen saturation, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure values (p = 0.507, p = 0.929, p = 0.955, p = 0.572, respectively).

There were significant differences between the AMS- and AMS+ groups in terms of MMP-9 and SP. However, differences in physical indexes between the groups were not statistically significant. This could provide objective indexes for scanning and screening individuals susceptible to AMS in the early stages of rapid ascending.