Effect of altitude on thrombopoietin and the platelet count in healthy volunteers

Sabine Hartmann; Alexander Krafft; Renate Huch; Christian Breymann

doi:10.1160/TH04-02-0086

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2005; 93(01): 115-117
DOI: 10.1160/TH04-02-0086

Platelets and Blood Cells

Schattauer GmbH

Effect of altitude on thrombopoietin and the platelet count in healthy volunteers

Sabine Hartmann

¹Perinatal Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Zurich University Hospital, Switzerland

,

Alexander Krafft

¹Perinatal Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Zurich University Hospital, Switzerland

,

Renate Huch

¹Perinatal Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Zurich University Hospital, Switzerland

,

Christian Breymann

¹Perinatal Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Zurich University Hospital, Switzerland

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Although there is evidence that altitude increases the platelet count, its effect on the platelet precursor stimulating factor, thrombopoietin (TPO), is unclear. Unlike erythropoietin, TPO appears largely unresponsive to exogenous signals. In a study in 16 healthy volunteers,we report the effects of altitude exposure at between 1000 and 1822 m for 1 or 2 weeks on TPO, the platelet count (+ indices), erythropoietin, hemoglobin, hematocrit and erythrocytes (+ indices).There were significant post-expo-sure increases in TPO (57.9 vs 37.1 U/l; P = 0.0006), platelet count (219.1 vs 208.0 x 10³/ml; P = 0.031) and erythropoietin (16.1 vs 9.9 U/l; P = 0.0032).There was a positive correlation between the increases in TPO and platelet count (r = 0.52, P = 0.043). Hemoglobin and hematocrit remained unchanged. Our results provide clear evidence for a relationship, presumably driven by hypoxia, between altitude exposure,TPO production and the platelet count.

Keywords

Thrombopoietin - erythropoietin - hypoxia - altitude

Full Text

References

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