Shift working at high altitude in the chilean andes (>3,600 m)
and its influence on erythropoietin and the low pressure system.
Gunga, Hanns-Christian, Lothar R[diaeresis]ocker, Claus Behn, Wulf
Hildebrandt, Ewald Koralewski, Ivan Rich, Wolfgang Schobersberger,
and Karl Kirsch.
Freie Universit[umlaut]at Berlin, Physiologisches Institut,
Arnimallee 22, 14 195 Berlin, Germany, Departemento Fisiolog[acute]ia
y Biof[acute]isica, Facultad de Medicina, Santiago, Chile,
Sporthochschule K[diaeresis]oln, Physiologisches Institut, Carl-Diem
-Weg 6, 50933 K[diaeresis]oln, Germany, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz,
Abteilung Transfusionsmedizin, Universit[umlaut]at Ulm,
Helmholtzstra[beta]e 10, 89081 Ulm, Germany,
Universit[umlaut]atsklinik f[umlaut]ur An[umlaut]asthesie und
Allgemeine Intensivmedizin, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck,
Austria
APStracts 3:0147A, 1996.
It was the hypothesis that in shift workers with a history of
intermittent hypoxic stress (working 10 days at >3,600 m, then 4
days rest at sea-level) for >5 years the initial erythropoietin
(EPO) response and the changes in central venous pressure (CVP) are
different from Caucasian low-landers. We studied the kitchen
personnel (N=11) of a mine (3,600 m) and a group of Caucasian low
-landers (N=5). Blood samples were taken and CVP determined several
times before, during, and after a typical shift. At baseline data
collection (BDC) prior to transition the shift workers had EPO
concentrations of 5.2 + 2.4 mU . ml-1, which increased at altitude
(P<0.01) and returned to BDC values on the recovery (day 16).
The Caucasians showed the same time course. Serum-transferrin
receptor concentrations did not change in both groups. CVP values in
the shift workers were generally higher than in the Caucasians. In
conclusion, the hypothesis has to be refuted that the initial EPO
response to a hypoxic stimulus is altered in these shift workers.
Higher hemoglobin concentrations and/or CVP values found in shift
workers might be responsible for the rather low EPO concentrations
observed in shift workers at BDC.
Received 12 June 1995; accepted in final form 4 March 1996.
APS Manuscript Number A615-5.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 27 March 96