Ischemic preconditioning of the lower extremity attenuates the normal hypoxic increase in pulmonary artery systolic pressure

► Hypoxic increases in pulmonary pressures are attributed to local vasoconstriction. ► Ischemic pre-condition of an extremity (IPC) induces systemic vasodilatory effects. ► The effects of IPC were evaluated on cyclists under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. ► IPC profoundly blunted the hypoxic increase of pulmonary artery systolic pressure.