Effect of Naproxen on Acute Mountain Sickness and Vascular Responses to Hypoxia

摘要

The role of prostaglandins in the pathogenesis of acute mountain sickness and two hypoxia-induced vascular responses was evaluated using the cyclooxygenase inhibitor naproxen. Eleven males spent 24h at sea level, followed by 34h of decompression to 428 torr while receiving naproxen (N), 250 mg twice daily or placebo (P) in a double-blind crossover trial. Serum naproxen levels by high pressure liquid chromatography were not changed by hypoxia. Retinal artery diameter measured from projected fundus photographs was increased after 27h at altitude (11.4 + or - .5mm) vs sea level (9.4 + or = .5mm, p< .05) during both trials. Upright mean arterial pressure fell after 6h at altitude (79 + or - 3 mmHg during N and P vs. 92 + or - 3 at S.L., p<.01). The severity of acute mountain sickness (AMS) by the Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire scores and observer assessment were unaffected by drug treatment. Minute ventilation, and expiratory alveolar P02 and PC02 did not differ between drug trials. This study suggests vasodilating prostaglandins do not have a major role in the genesis of AMS, hypoxia-induced retinal vasodilatation, or postural blood pressure responses in man.