Biomarkers of neuronal damage in saturation diving—a controlled observational study

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2020-12, Vol.120 (12), p.2773-2784
• Main Authors: Rosén, Anders, Gennser, Mikael, Oscarsson, Nicklas, Kvarnström, Andreas, Sandström, Göran, Blennow, Kaj, Seeman-Lodding, Helen, Zetterberg, Henrik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Albumin; Anestesi och intensivvård; Anesthesiology and Intensive Care; Annan klinisk medicin; Biomarkers; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Central nervous system; Diurnal variations; Diving; Glial fibrillary acidic protein; Hematocrit; Hemoglobin; Human Physiology; hyperbaric; Nervous system; Neuronal damage; Neuronal-glial interactions; Observational studies; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original; Original Article; Other Clinical Medicine; Saturation diving; Sports Medicine; Statistical analysis; Tau protein
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-020-04499-y

Purpose A prospective and controlled observational study was performed to determine if the central nervous system injury markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAp), neurofilament light (NfL) and tau concentrations changed in response to a saturation dive. Methods The intervention group consisted of 14 submariners compressed to 401 kPa in a dry hyperbaric chamber. They remained pressurized for 36 h and were then decompressed over 70 h. A control group of 12 individuals was used. Blood samples were obtained from both groups before, during and after hyperbaric exposure, and from the intervention group after a further 25–26 h. Results There were no statistically significant changes in the concentrations of GFAp, NfL and tau in the intervention group. During hyperbaric exposure, GFAp decreased in the control group (mean/median − 15.1/ − 8.9 pg·mL −1 , p