title: Austrian Moderate Altitude Study (AMAS 2000) - fluid shifts, erythropoiesis, and angiogenesis in patients with metabolic syndrome at moderate altitude (congruent with 1700 m).
abstract: It was hypothesized that subjects with metabolic syndrome (hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus): (1) develop measurable peripheral edema at moderate altitude and (2) might show differences on erythropoiesis, iron status and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in comparison to healthy subjects during and after a long-term stay (3-week exposure) at moderate altitude (congruent with 1700 m). Twenty-two male subjects with metabolic syndrome were selected. Baseline investigations (t1) were performed in Innsbruck (500 m). All participants were transferred by bus to 1700 m (Alps) and remained there for 3 weeks with examinations on day 1 (after the first night at altitude, t2), day 4 (t3), day 9 (t4) and day 19 (t5). After returning to Innsbruck, post-altitude examinations were conducted after 7-10 days (t6) and 6-7 weeks (t7), respectively. Body mass was decreased from t1 to t7 (P<0.01). Total body water was decreased at t2 (P<0.01), returned to control level (t3, t4), and was found elevated at t7 (P<0.01). Lean body mass did not change, but body fat decreased during the study (P<0.01). Tissue thickness at the forehead decreased during and after altitude exposure (P<0.01), whereas tissue thickness at the tibia did not alter. Erythropoietin (EPO) was elevated as early as t2 and remained increased until t5. Reticulocyte count was increased at t3 and remained above pre-altitude values. VEGF levels were unchanged. After a 3-week exposure to moderate altitude, patients with metabolic syndrome had reduced their body mass, mainly because of a reduction in body fat. The moderate altitude was found to stimulate erythropoiesis in these patients but this was not sufficient to increase serum VEGF concentration.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Weltraummedizin Berlin (ZWMB), Institut für Physiologie, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 22, Berlin. gunga@zedat.fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: Hanns-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Gunga
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fries
authors.forename: Egon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Humpeler
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: Leif-Erik
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Boldt
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koralewski
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johannes
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klingler
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mittermayr
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Röcker
authors.forename: Berrin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yaban
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Behn
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jelkmann
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schobersberger
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001317:Austria; D001823:Body Composition; D001826:Body Fluids; D001834:Body Water; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D007501:Iron