Iron bioavailability and cardiopulmonary function during ascent to very high altitude

Abstract

Intravenous iron supplementation at sea level is associated with enhanced stroke volume and higher SpO2 on ascent to very high altitude (5100 m). These effects appear to result from reduced pulmonary vascular resistance and improved right heart function. https://bit.ly/2VQX5fR

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03707249.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: D.A. Holdsworth has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: M.C. Frise has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: J. Bakker-Dyos has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: C. Boos has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: K.L. Dorrington has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: D. Woods has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: A. Mellor has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: P.A. Robbins reports grants from Vifor Pharma, outside the submitted work.

Figures

FIGURE 1

Variation with altitude of iron indices, haematological parameters and cardiopulmonary physiological variables. Sea-level data were acquired immediately prior to infusion of iron or saline. Data are plotted as mean±sem. The p-values given are for the interaction between group and altitude, that is, whether iron administration altered the change from sea level to maximum altitude. SpO2: peripheral oxyhaemoglobin saturation; SVI: stroke volume index; TSat: transferrin saturation; Hb: haemoglobin concentration; sTfR: soluble transferrin receptor; CI: cardiac index; RIMP and LIMP: RV and LV indices of myocardial performance (combined measures of the efficiency of ventricular filling and ejection; higher values indicate more significant impairment); Epo: erythropoietin; RVSP: right ventricular systolic pressure; PVR: pulmonary vascular resistance; TAPSE: tricuspid annular planar systolic excursion.