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[Effect of decompression on the compliment system]
Aviakosmicheskaia I Ekologicheskaia Meditsina = Aerospace and Environmental Medicine
|May 1, 1993
Summary
Decompression alters the complement system, particularly with gas bubbles. Alternative complement activation may play a role in certain forms of decompression sickness (DCS).
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Immunology
- Aerospace Medicine
Background:
- The complement system is crucial for immune response.
- Decompression stress can impact physiological systems.
- Understanding decompression sickness (DCS) mechanisms is vital for safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of simulated decompression on the human complement system.
- To identify specific complement components affected by decompression and gas bubbles (GB).
- To explore the role of complement activation pathways in DCS.
Main Methods:
- Healthy male volunteers underwent simulated ascents to 7000-9000m and descents to 30m.
- Blood serum was collected before and after decompression for hemolytic activity assays.
- Doppler ultrasound was used to detect gas bubbles (GB).
Main Results:
- In the absence of DCS symptoms and GB, C1 and C4 activity decreased.
- Altitude joint pain was associated with unchanged complement activity.
- Circulating GB led to more significant complement alterations after descents than ascents, suggesting alternative pathway activation.
- Skin DCS showed a two-fold reduction in complement activity via the alternative mechanism and reduced C5 activity.
Conclusions:
- Alternative complement system activation may be implicated in DCS forms related to venous and pulmonary capillary gas embolism.
- Complement system alterations vary depending on DCS symptoms and the presence of gas bubbles.
- Further research into complement pathways could inform DCS prevention and treatment.