Operation Everest II: Spirometric and radiographic changes in acclimatized humans at simulated high altitudes

C. H. Welsh; P. D. Wagner; J. T. Reeves; D. Lynch; T. M. Cink; J. Armstrong; M. K. Malconian; P. B. Rock; C. S. Houston

doi:10.1164/ajrccm/147.5.1239

Operation Everest II: Spirometric and radiographic changes in acclimatized humans at simulated high altitudes

C. H. Welsh, P. D. Wagner, J. T. Reeves, D. Lynch, T. M. Cink, J. Armstrong, M. K. Malconian, P. B. Rock, C. S. Houston

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Abstract

We report spirometry and radiographic data on eight normal male human subjects during prolonged graded altitude exposure to as high as 8,848 m above sea level in a hypobaric chamber. We found a significant and progressive drop in FVC by 14 ± 3% over 40 days, which resolved slowly during the first 48 h after descent. With altitude, midrange forced expiratory flow (FEF_25-75) increased by 82 ± 3%, probably because of reduced air density. FEV₁, however, did not change. Chest radiographs on subjects taken 2 h after descent to sea level showed a pattern of pulmonary artery enlargement and interstitial edema. These data suggest that increased pulmonary blood volume and edema may be causes of the restricted pulmonary function pattern.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1239-1244
Number of pages	6
Journal	American Review of Respiratory Disease
Volume	147
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/147.5.1239
State	Published - 1993

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title = "Operation Everest II: Spirometric and radiographic changes in acclimatized humans at simulated high altitudes",

abstract = "We report spirometry and radiographic data on eight normal male human subjects during prolonged graded altitude exposure to as high as 8,848 m above sea level in a hypobaric chamber. We found a significant and progressive drop in FVC by 14 ± 3% over 40 days, which resolved slowly during the first 48 h after descent. With altitude, midrange forced expiratory flow (FEF25-75) increased by 82 ± 3%, probably because of reduced air density. FEV1, however, did not change. Chest radiographs on subjects taken 2 h after descent to sea level showed a pattern of pulmonary artery enlargement and interstitial edema. These data suggest that increased pulmonary blood volume and edema may be causes of the restricted pulmonary function pattern.",

author = "Welsh, {C. H.} and Wagner, {P. D.} and Reeves, {J. T.} and D. Lynch and Cink, {T. M.} and J. Armstrong and Malconian, {M. K.} and Rock, {P. B.} and Houston, {C. S.}",

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T2 - Spirometric and radiographic changes in acclimatized humans at simulated high altitudes

AU - Welsh, C. H.

AU - Wagner, P. D.

AU - Reeves, J. T.

AU - Lynch, D.

AU - Cink, T. M.

AU - Armstrong, J.

AU - Malconian, M. K.

AU - Rock, P. B.

AU - Houston, C. S.

PY - 1993

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AB - We report spirometry and radiographic data on eight normal male human subjects during prolonged graded altitude exposure to as high as 8,848 m above sea level in a hypobaric chamber. We found a significant and progressive drop in FVC by 14 ± 3% over 40 days, which resolved slowly during the first 48 h after descent. With altitude, midrange forced expiratory flow (FEF25-75) increased by 82 ± 3%, probably because of reduced air density. FEV1, however, did not change. Chest radiographs on subjects taken 2 h after descent to sea level showed a pattern of pulmonary artery enlargement and interstitial edema. These data suggest that increased pulmonary blood volume and edema may be causes of the restricted pulmonary function pattern.

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Operation Everest II: Spirometric and radiographic changes in acclimatized humans at simulated high altitudes

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