• Mingyue Rao, Jiabei Li, Jun Qin, Jihang Zhang, Xubin Gao, Shiyong Yu, Jie Yu, Guozhu Chen, Baida Xu, Huijie Li, Rongsheng Rao, Lan Huang, and Jun Jin.
• Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of PLA, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China; Department of Cardiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
• Plos One. 2015 Jan 1; 10 (1): e0116936.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to observe left ventricular function during acute high-altitude exposure in a large group of healthy young males.MethodsA prospective trial was conducted in Szechwan and Tibet from June to August, 2012. By Doppler echocardiography, left ventricular function was examined in 139 healthy young Chinese men at sea level; within 24 hours after arrival in Lhasa, Tibet, at 3700 m; and on day 7 following an ascent to Yangbajing at 4400 m after 7 days of acclimatization at 3700 m. The resting oxygen saturation (SaO2), heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were also measured at the above mentioned three time points.ResultsWithin 24 hours of arrival at 3700 m, the HR, ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and left ventricular (LV) Tei index were significantly increased, but the LV end-systolic dimension (ESD), end-systolic volume (ESV), SaO2, E/A ratio, and ejection time (ET) were significantly decreased compared to the baseline levels in all subjects. On day 7 at 4400 m, the SV and CO were significantly decreased; the EF and FS Tei were not decreased compared with the values at 3700 m; the HR was further elevated; and the SaO2, ESV, ESD, and ET were further reduced. Additionally, the E/A ratio was significantly increased on day 7 but was still lower than it was at low altitude.ConclusionUpon acute high-altitude exposure, left ventricular systolic function was elevated with increased stroke volume, but diastolic function was decreased in healthy young males. With higher altitude exposure and prolonged acclimatization, the left ventricular systolic function was preserved with reduced stroke volume and improved diastolic function.

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