Influence of altitude exposure on coronary flow reserve.
BACKGROUND
Although no data exist on the effect of altitude exposure on coronary flow reserve (CFR), patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) are advised not to exceed moderate altitudes of approximately 2500 m above sea level. We studied the influence of altitude on myocardial blood flow (MBF) in controls and CAD patients.


RESULTS
In 10 healthy controls and 8 patients with CAD, MBF was measured by positron emission tomography and 15O-labeled water at rest, during adenosine stress, and after supine bicycle exercise. This protocol was repeated during inhalation of a hypoxic gas mixture corresponding to an altitude of 4500 m (controls) and 2500 m (CAD). Workload was targeted to comparable heart rate-blood pressure products at normoxia and hypoxia. Resting MBF increased significantly in controls at 4500 m (+24%, P<0.01) and in CAD patients at 2500 m (+24%, P<0.05). Altitude had no influence on adenosine-induced hyperemia and CFR. Exercise-induced hyperemia increased significantly in controls (+38%, P<0.01) at 4500 m (despite a reduction in workload, -28%, P<0.0001) but not in CAD patients at 2500 m (moderate decrease in workload, -11%, P<0.05). Exercise-induced reserve was preserved in controls (+10%, P=NS) but decreased in CAD patients (-18%, P<0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
At 2500 m altitude, there is a significant decrease in exercise-induced reserve in CAD patients, indicating that compensatory mechanisms might be exhausted even at moderate altitudes, whereas healthy controls have preserved reserve up to 4500 m. Thus, patients with CAD and impaired CFR should be cautious when performing physical exercise even at moderate altitude.
Wyss
Christophe A
CA
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Koepfli
Pascal
P
Fretz
Gregory
G
Seebauer
Magdalena
M
Schirlo
Christian
C
Kaufmann
Philipp A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000531:Altitude; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed