title: The effect of acetazolamide on saccadic latency at 3459 meters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of altitude on brain function is not yet well understood, nor is the influence of height and speed of ascent. Additionally, the relationship between acute mountain sickness (AMS) symptoms and brain function at altitude is unclear. We hypothesized that a deterioration from baseline measures of brain function occurs after rapid, mechanical ascent to 3459 m and would be less pronounced in persons taking acetazolamide.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 20 healthy volunteers (14 men, 6 women; mean age [±SD] 43 ± 16 years) were alternately allocated to acetazolamide 250 mg or to placebo, taken every 12 hours commencing 3 days before ascent. Prosaccadic and antisaccadic eye movements, heart rate, arterial saturation, and Lake Louise AMS scores were assessed at sea level and 15 to 22 hours after ascent to 3459 m.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Arterial oxygen saturation was significantly lower in the placebo group compared to the acetazolamide group at altitude (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, median [interquartile range]: acetazolamide vs placebo: 92% [5] vs 85% [5]; P = .007), with no differences in prosaccadic latency, heart rate, or Lake Louise score. No differences in saccadic latencies from baseline to altitude were observed in the placebo group, whereas prosaccadic latencies were significantly longer at altitude with acetazolamide (altitude vs baseline: 153 ms [41] vs 176 ms [52], P = .008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brain function, measured by saccadic eye movements, appears to be unimpaired after rapid ascent to 3459 m. Although acetazolamide improves oxygen saturations, it may worsen prosaccades, possibly indicating adverse effects of acetazolamide on brain function at moderate altitude.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (Mss Faull and Robertson, and Drs Antoniades and Pattinson); School of Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom (Mss Faull and Robertson, Drs Thomas, Bradwell, and Pattinson and the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society). Electronic address: olivia.faull@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Olivia K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Faull
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (Mss Faull and Robertson, and Drs Antoniades and Pattinson); School of Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom (Mss Faull and Robertson, Drs Thomas, Bradwell, and Pattinson and the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society).
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom (Mss Faull and Robertson, Drs Thomas, Bradwell, and Pattinson and the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society).
authors.forename: Owen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom (Mss Faull and Robertson, Drs Thomas, Bradwell, and Pattinson and the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society).
authors.forename: Arthur R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bradwell
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (Mss Faull and Robertson, and Drs Antoniades and Pattinson).
authors.forename: Chrystalina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Antoniades
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (Mss Faull and Robertson, and Drs Antoniades and Pattinson); School of Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom (Mss Faull and Robertson, Drs Thomas, Bradwell, and Pattinson and the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society).
authors.forename: Kyle T S
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Pattinson
mesh_terms: D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D012438:Saccades / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000086:Acetazolamide
keywords: acetazolamide; altitude; saccadic latency