Natick, Massachusetts 01760. 2Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratory. University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Denver, Colorado 80202.
The Effects of Propranolol on Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and Well-Being at 4300 Meters Altitude.
Charles S. Fulco 1 , Paul B. Rock3 , John T. Reeves 2 , Laurie A. Trad1 , Patricia M. Young4 , and Allen Cymerman1
o
1Altitude
Research Division Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine Natick, Massachusetts 01760
IUS
2 Cardiovascular
Pulmonary Research Laboratory University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Denver, Colorado 80202 3 Department
of Medicine Fitzsimons Army Medical Center Aurora, Colorado 80045 4 Millipore
Corporation Waters Chromatography Division 34 Maple Street Milford, Massachusetts 01757
Running title: Propranolol and ALS
Mail proofs to:
Charles S. Fulco
Altitude Research Division USARIEM Kansas Street Natick, Massachusetts 01760
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The effects of Propranolol on Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and Well-Being at 4300 Meters Altitude '2 PERSONAL AUTHOR(S) Charles S. Fulco, Paul B. Rock, John T. Reeves, Laurie A. Trad, Patricia M. Young, Allen Cvmerman TO
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ABSTRACT
A number of
physiological
responses
and
adjustments
occur at high
altitude to compensate for the hypoxia. We hypothesized that interference with one component of
the
system, would hinder
normal
compensatory
altitude
process,
acclimatization
and
mountain sickness (AMS) and compromise well-being. yr) received either 80 mg
propranolol
the sympathetic nervous thereby exacerbate acute
Twelve young males (21 + 2
(PRO;n=6) or placebo (PLA;n=6), t.i.d.
at sea level (SL) and during the first 15 days of a 19-day residence at 4300 m (HA). Individuals were
randomly
assigned
to
each
Symptoms Questionnaire (BSQ) was administered at PM) during the entire altitude exposure
group. The Environmental
SL
and twice daily (AM and
to assess AMS symptoms and subjective
feelings of well-being. Supine heart rate (HR) was determined at rest twice at
SL and four times at HA. HR in the PLA group increased 40% over SL values (57 +
3 to 80
+
4 beats/min) by day
increase above
SL
values
7 at HA (p0.7)
as
previously
surpassed established
the criterion score for altitude sickness (11).
surpassed the criterion score for AMS-R the propranolol group, had scores
However, (>0.06).
only
the
placebo group
The placebo group, but not
for cold stress, distress, alert, exertion,
and fatigue that were statistically different
from sea level. The total, cold
stress, and distress scores for the propranolol group were significantly lower than the respective placebo group scores.
TABLE II HERE ***
***
By the second day factor scores for each
of
at
altitude,
the
groups
both were
groups improved. The total and lower
than the values from the
7 previous day with the
scores
that is, all of the
in
improvement did
propranolol group being complete;
the
differ statistically from the sea-level
not
values. However, the placebo group was still 'sick' as reflected by an AMS-C > 0.7
and
by
values
for
the
total
and
significantly different from sea level. and cold stress scores for
the
other
factor
scores
which
were
Furthermore, the total, AIS-C, AMS-R,
placebo
group were significantly higher than
the propranolol group scores. On day 3 of
the
altitude
exposure,
the
placebo
group also fully
recovered from AILS as reflected by all of the scores being similar to the sealevel values. During days 4 through
15
while ON TREATMENT, all of the scores
of both groups did not differ from sea level or between groups. Table III shows the last day
the
and the subsequent two days when the 17). As indicated, all of
the
were not altered from day 1
subjects were OFF TREATMENT (days 16 and
scores
of
the placebo and propranolol groups
to days 16 and 17.
***
TABLE III HERE ***
Figure I shows the heart rates
at
OFF TREATMENT. There were no statistical groups, ON or OFF
subjects were ON TREATMENT (day 15)
TREATMENT.
At
sea
differences at sea level between the
altitude,
heart rates differed between the
groups only during the ON-TREATMENT phase (days mean heart rate of the propranolol
group
which was not statistically different placebo group (78 beats/min).
level and at altitude, ON and
from
2 through 15). On day 19, the
increased to a value (74 beats/min) the
mean heart rate value of the
8
DISCUSSION It was previously observed that during an acute ascent to, and descent from 6000 m (
