High-altitude effects on respiratory gases, acid-base balance and pulmonary artery pressures in equids
Greene HM, Wickler SJ, Anderson TP, et al.
Equine Exercise Physiology 5, Eq Vet J Suppl. 30:71-76, 1999
The effect of a 10 day sojourn to 3800 meters (12,500 ft) on respiratory function, acid-base balance, and pulmonary artery pressures were measured on 6 healthy horses. Acute altitude exposure resulted in a respiratory alkalosis and arterial hypoxemia that returned to normal upon the horses return to 225 m. The determinants of the alkalosis (hypocapnia and elevated bicarbonate levels) slowly returned to normal by day 8 and 4 of altitude exposure, respectively. The results of the study indicate that changes in acid-base status resulting from acute hypoxic exposure tend to normalize beginning 4 days after hypoxic exposure, and return to normal upon return to lower elevations.
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