The ECG changes due to altitude and to catecholamines.
In order to distinguish the effects of beta-receptor stimulation on the ECG from other factors during short-term adjustment to hypoxic aerohypoxia, the ECG of 19 volunteers were compared during moderately acute, stepwise exposure to high altitude (6,000 m) in a low pressure chamber, once with and once without beta-receptor blockade (propranolol), and after isoprenaline inhalation at ground level. The results show that beta-receptor stimulation accounts mainly for most ECG changes during altitude exposure, i.e., for the shortening of R-R interval, the lengthening of Q-T and in particular for the ST-T flattening, the latter therefore being only an indirect sign of hypoxia. After exclusion of the catecholamines, the minor but still significant ECG changes at altitude (shortening of R-R interval, increase of P wave, prolongation of P-Q, deviation of the R vector, T wave flattening in the left precordial leads) may be attributed to other, so far undefined factors, such as cardiac hypoxia, vagal withdrawal, or increase of pulmonary resistance.
D000531:Altitude; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects
D002395:Catecholamines; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011433:Propranolol; D007545:Isoproterenol