Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Effective acclimatization to high altitude involves a natriuresis and diuresis facilitated by a suppressed aldosterone. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is common but poorly understood. A cardiac hormone, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), is released primarily in response to cardiomyocyte stretch but animal models suggest BNP secretion is also stimulated by acute hypoxia. An increase in BNP causes a diuresis, natriuresis and a reduction in aldosterone. We hypothesized ...

We have previously reported that exercise at high altitude (HA) led to a significant increase in brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. In contrast two other publications have reported no change in resting BNP at HA. We therefore measured BNP and Lake Louise (LL) Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) scores in a further 20 subjects at rest in Kathmandu (Kat; 1300 m); and following exercise and at rest at 4270 m and 5150 m. Compared with the baseline BNP level at Kat (9.2+/−2 pg...

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is common at high altitude (HA) and is associated with a relative failure of the natriuresis and diuresis that occurs at HA. The role of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in this context has not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to clarify if BNP rises in response to exercise at HA and if so whether this is related to markers of acclimatization. Thirty-two healthy subjects had assessments of BNP, aldosterone and markers of HA acclimatization (a...