Effects of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) on Acclimatization to High Altitude
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
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.