Relationship between individual ventilatory response and acute renal water excretion at high altitude

We tested the hypothesis that the individual ventilatory adaptation to high altitude (HA, 5050 m) may influence renal water excretion in response to water loading. In 8 healthy humans (33 ± 4 S.D. years) we studied, at sea level (SL) and at HA, resting ventilation (V˙E), arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2SpO2), urinary output after water loading (WL, 20 mL/kg), and total body water (TBW). Ventilatory response to HA was defined as the difference in resting V˙E over SpO2SpO2 (ΔV˙E/ΔSpO2) from SL to HA. At HA, a significant increase in urinary volume after the first hour from WL (%WLt(0–60)) was observed. Significant correlations were found between ΔV˙E/ΔSpO2 versus %WLt(0–60) at HA and versus changes in TBW, from SL to HA. In conclusion, in healthy subjects the ventilatory response to HA influences water balance and correlates with kidney response to WL. A higher ventilatory response at HA, allowing a more efficient water renal handling, is likely to be a protective mechanisms from altitude illness.