Effect of acetazolamide on ventilatory response in subjects with chronic mountain sickness

Abstract Although the effects of acetazolamide (ACZ) on ventilation during acute mountain sickness are well known, there are no studies assessing its effect on ventilatory response in chronic hypoxia. We studied this effect in patients with chronic mountain sickness (CMS). Subjects with CMS, living...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Respiratory physiology & neurobiology 2008-08, Vol.162 (3), p.184-189
Main Authors: Rivera-Ch, Maria, Huicho, Luis, Bouchet, Patrick, Richalet, Jean Paul, León-Velarde, Fabiola
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetazolamide
Acetazolamide - therapeutic use
Adult
Altitude Sickness - drug therapy
Altitude Sickness - physiopathology
Analysis of Variance
Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Carbon Dioxide - pharmacology
Chronic Disease
Chronic mountain sickness
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Double-Blind Method
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hematocrit
Humans
Hypoxia
Hypoxia - physiopathology
Male
Medical Education
Middle Aged
Oxygen
Pulmonary/Respiratory
Respiratory Mechanics - drug effects
Respiratory Mechanics - physiology
Vertebrates: respiratory system
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Although the effects of acetazolamide (ACZ) on ventilation during acute mountain sickness are well known, there are no studies assessing its effect on ventilatory response in chronic hypoxia. We studied this effect in patients with chronic mountain sickness (CMS). Subjects with CMS, living permanently at 4300 m, were assigned in a randomized, double-blind study to 250 mg/day ( n = 9) or to 500 mg/day ( n = 9) of ACZ. Resting end-tidal PE T O 2 and end-tidal PE T C O 2 were measured before and after 3 weeks of acetazolamide. Ventilatory responses were evaluated by the determination of sensitivity to hypoxia and to CO2 . After treatment ventilatory response to hypoxia increased, resting PE T C O 2 decreased, and ACZ caused a leftward shift in the position, but not a change in the slope of the ventilation ( V ˙ E ) versus PE T C O 2 relationship. There were no differences between the two doses used. ACZ administration provides a beneficial effect on respiratory function of high altitude natives with CMS and thus it can be an effective therapy for the disease.
ISSN:1569-9048
1878-1519
DOI:10.1016/j.resp.2008.06.010