Ibuprofen is often taken by travelers to high altitude to treat the symptoms of acute mountain sickness such as headache and malaise. However, the blunting of inflammation by ibuprofen may slow the process of acclimatization to altitude, which relies on mediators of inflammation for adjustments in breathing. The study randomizes healthy subjects to receive ibuprofen or placebo and then ascend to altitude (12,500 feet). Blood cytokines and non-invasive measurements of blood and tissue oxygen levels will be made for 48 hours at altitude. The hypothesis being tested is that subjects receiving ibuprofen will have lower blood and tissue oxygen levels after 48 hours at altitude than will placebo subjects.
The study will begin with 2 days of studies in San Francisco (sea level baseline). Measurements will include non-invasive measurements of blood and tissue oxygen and venous blood draws for cytokine levels. The altitude part of the study involves ascent to the University of California's White Mountain Research Center Barcroft Laboratory, at 12,500 feet elevation. The subjects will remain at that altitude for at least 48 hours for measurements of oxygenation and blood cytokines.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
20
We are simply testing if taking ibuprofen upon ascent to altitude is associated with a delayed acclimatization response to the high altitude hypoxia.
White Mountain Research Center
Bishop, California, United States
UCSF Hypoxia Research Laboratory
San Francisco, California, United States
blood cytokine levels
venous blood sample, once a day
Time frame: on days 1 and 2 at sea level, on arrival at altitude and daily for 2 days
cerebral blood flow
optical/non-invasive measure of frontal cortex cerebral blood flow with an FDA-approved device
Time frame: once daily for 2 days at sea level, on arrival at altitude and once daily at altitude for 2 days
pulse oximetry
finger pulse oximetry with an FDA approved pulse oximeter
Time frame: once a day for 2 days at sea level, on arrival at altitude and daily for 2 days
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.