Pregnancy at high altitude in the Andes leads to increased total vessel density in healthy newborns

Journal article (2016)

Authors

Norina N. Gassmann Erasmus Medical Centre, University of Zürich
Hugo A. Van Elteren Erasmus Medical Centre
Irwin Reiss Erasmus Medical Centre
Irwin K.M. Reiss Erasmus Medical Centre
I. K.M. Reiss Erasmus Medical Centre
Irwin K. Reiss Erasmus Medical Centre
Max Gassmann Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, University of Zürich
Rogier C.J. De Jonge Erasmus Medical Centre
Rogier C.J. de Jonge Erasmus Medical Centre
T. G. Goos Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering , Erasmus Medical Centre
Tom G. Goos Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering , Erasmus Medical Centre
Tom Goos Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering , Erasmus Medical Centre
T.G. Goos Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering , Erasmus Medical Centre
Claudia R. Morales Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Maria Rivera-Ch Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Daniel S. Martin University College London
Patricia Cabala Peralta Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Luis Huicho Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Research Group
Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
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Published Date

2016

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Biomechanical Engineering

Research Group

Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology

Abstract

The developing human fetus is able to cope with the physiological reduction in oxygen supply occurring in utero. However, it is not known if microvascularization of the fetus is augmented when pregnancy occurs at high altitude. Fifty-three healthy term newborns in Puno, Peru (3,840 m) were compared with sea-level controls. Pre-and postductal arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) was determined. Cerebral and calf muscle regional tissue oxygenation was measured using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Skin microcirculation was noninvasively measured using incident dark field imaging. Pre-and postductal SpO2 in Peruvian babies was 88.1 and 88.4%, respectively, which was 10.4 and 9.7% lower than in newborns at sea level (P=0.001). Cerebral and regional oxygen saturation was significantly lower in the Peruvian newborns (cerebral: 71.0 vs. 74.9%; regional: 68.5 vs. 76.0%, P=0.001). Transcutaneously measured total vessel density in the Peruvian newborns was 14% higher than that in the newborns born at sea level (29.7 vs. 26.0 mm/mm2; P=0.001). This study demonstrates that microvascular vessel density in neonates born to mothers living at high altitude is higher than that in neonates born at sea level.