Steele, Andrew R., Philip N. Ainslie, Rachel Stone, Kaitlyn Tymko, Courtney Tymko, Connor A. Howe, David MacLeod, James D. Anholm, Christopher Gasho, and Michael M. Tymko. Global REACH 2018: characterizing acid-base balance over 21 days at 4,300 m in lowlanders. High Alt Med Biol. 23:185-191, 2022. Introduction: High altitude exposure results in hyperventilatory-induced respiratory alkalosis, followed by metabolic compensation to return arterial blood pH (pHa) toward sea level values. However, previous work has limited sample sizes, short-term exposure, and pharmacological confounders (e.g., acetazolamide). The purpose of this investigation was to characterize acid-base balance after rapid ascent to high altitude (i.e., 4,300 m) in lowlanders. We hypothesized that despite rapid bicarbonate ([HCO3-]) excretion during early acclimatization, partial respiratory alkalosis would still be apparent as reflected in elevations in pHa compared with sea level after 21 days of acclimatization to 4,300 m. Methods: In 16 (3 female) healthy volunteers not taking any medications, radial artery blood samples were collected and analyzed at sea level (150 m; Lima, Peru), and on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after rapid automobile (∼8 hours) ascent to high altitude (4,300 m; Cerro de Pasco, Peru). Results and Discussion: Although reductions in [HCO3-] occurred by day 3 (p < 0.01), they remained stable thereafter and were insufficient to fully normalize pHa back to sea level values over the subsequent 21 days (p < 0.01). These data indicate that only partial compensation for respiratory alkalosis persists throughout 21 days at 4,300 m.
Keywords: acid–base balance; high altitude; hypoxia; metabolic compensation.