Abstract des Autors

To quantify fluid distribution at a moderate altitude (2,315 m) 29 male subjects were studied with respect to tissue thickness changes (front (forehead), sternum, tibia), changes of total body water, changes of plasma volume, total protein concentrations (TPV), colloid osmotic pressure (COP), and electrolytes. Tissue thickness at the forehead showed a significant increase from 4.14 mm to 4.41 mm 48 h after ascent to the Rudolfshuette (2,315 m). At 96 h after ascent the tissue thickness at the tibia was decreased to 1.33 mm compared to the control value of 1.59 mm. Body mass increased from 75.5 kg (control) to 76.2 kg on the last day and body water from 44.2 l to 45.0 l during the week. The accumulation fluid in the upper part of the body was paralleled by a decrease in TPC and COP. At 48 h after the ascent COP dropped from 29.5 mmHg to 27.5 mmHg. After 96 h at moderate altitude COP was still significantly decreased compared to the control level. At 1.5 h after the return from the Rudolfshuette in Saalfelden (744 m) COP was back to the control values. The TPC also showed an initial drop from 7.75 g/dl to 7.48 g/dl after 48 h at altitude and remained below the control value during the whole week. It seems from our study that even with exposure to moderate altitude measurable fluid shifts to the upper part of the body occurred which were detected by our ultrasound method.