Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Blood biochemical factors in humans resistant and susceptible to formation of venous gas emboli during decompression

  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Blood biochemical parameters were measured in 12 male human subjects before and after exposure to a staged decompression protocol, with simulated extravehicular activity, during 3 days. Following the exposure, significant changes occurred in several parameters, including increases in blood urea nitrogen, inorganic phosphate, potassium, and osmolality, and decreases in uric acid and creatinine. Pre-exposure blood samples from subjects who were susceptible to formation of venous gas emboli (VGE) during decompression exhibited significantly greater levels of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, potassium, inorganic phosphate, calcium, and magnesium. The results indicate that, following this decompression profile, small but significant (P<0.05) changes occur in several blood biochemical parameters, and that levels of certain blood factors may be related to susceptibility to VGE formation during decompression.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander WC, Leach CS, Fisher CL, Lambertsen CJ, Johnson PC (1973) Hematological, biochemical, and immunological studies during a 14-day continuous exposure to 5.2% O2 in N2 at pressure equivalent to 100 FSW (4 ata). Aerosp Med 44:850–854

    Google Scholar 

  • Allain CC, Poon LS, Chan CSG, Richmond W, Fu PC (1974) Enzymatic determinations of total serum cholesterol. Clin Chem 20:470–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JC, Bennett PB (1981) Hematologic changes caused by deep trimix diving: the Atlantis II experience. Undersea Biomed Res 9:A60

    Google Scholar 

  • Barthelmai W, Czok R (1962) Enzymatic determinations of glucose in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid and urine. Klin Wochenschr 40:585–589

    Google Scholar 

  • Behnke AR (1971) Decompression sickness. Aerosp Med 42:255–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Bessey OA, Lowry OH, Brock MJ (1947) A method for the rapid determination of alkaline phosphatase with five cubic millimeters of serum. J Biol Chem 164:321–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucolo G, David H (1973) Quantitative determination of serum triglycerides by use of enzymes. Clin Chem 19:476–482

    Google Scholar 

  • Cotlove E, Trantham HV, Bowman RL (1958) An instrument and method for automatic, rapid accurate and sensitive titration of chloride in biologic samples. J Lab Clin Med 51:461–468

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly JA, Ertingshausen G (1972) Direct method for determining inorganic phosphate in serum with the “centrifichem”. Clin Chem 18:263–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis WB, Rennard SI, Bitterman PB, Crystal RG (1983) Pulmonary oxygen toxicity. Early reversible changes in human alveolar structures induced by hyperoxia. N Engl J Med 309:878–883

    Google Scholar 

  • Demaker PNM, Schade RWB, Jansen RTP, Van't Laar A (1982) Intra-individual variation of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol in normal humans. Atherosclerosis 45:259–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Dembert ML, Jekel JF, Mooney LW (1984) Health risk factors for the development of decompression sickness among U. S. Navy divers. Undersea Biomed Res 11:395–406

    Google Scholar 

  • Draguzya MD, Vlasov VV, Shalimov PM (1978) Effects of amount of food, fat and fluid blanace on incidence and severity of decompression sickness. Kosm Biol Aviakosm Med 12:79–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS (1972) Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem 18:499–502

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilman SC, Hunter Jr WL, Mooney LW, Biersner RJ (1978) Effect of long-term hyperbaric stress on ammonia metabolism in humans. Aviat Space Environ Med 49:1093–1094

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenleaf JE, Van Beaumont W, Brock PJ, Morse JT, Mangseth GR (1979) Plasma volume and electrolyte shifts with heavy exercise in sitting and supine positions. Am J Physiol 236:R 206–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeckel R (1976) The reliability of a mechanized procedure (Perkin-Elmer C4) for the enzymatic determination of uric acid according to Kageyama. J Clin Chem Biochem 14:165–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Haralambie G, Berg A (1976) Serum urea and amino nitrogen changes with exercise duration. Eur J Appl Physiol 36:39–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson RB Jr, Hoch H (1965) Osmolality of serum and urine. In: Meites S (ed) Standard methods of clinical chemistry, 5th edn. Academic Press, New York, pp 159–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Karmen A (1955) A note on the spectrophotometric assay of glutamic-oxaloacetate transaminase in human blood serum. J Clin Invest 34:131–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Larkin EC, Kimzey SL (1972) The response of erythrocyte organic phosphate levels and active potassium flux to hypobaric hyperoxia. J Lab Clin Med 79:541–549

    Google Scholar 

  • Leach CS, Cowley JRM, Troell MT, Clark JM, Lambertsen CJ (1978) Biochemical, endocrinological and hematological studies. In: Lambertsen CJ, Gelfand R, Clark JM (eds) Physiological effects in He-O2 excursions to pressures of 400-800-1200 and 1600 feet of sea water. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Philadelphia, pp E17-1–E17-59

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewin S (1972) Blood serum tension and its potential. Br J Haematol 22:561–566

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuman TS, Hall DD, Linaweaver PG (1976) Gas phase separation during decompression in man: ultrasonic monitoring. Undersea Biomed Res 3:121–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton SJ, Adams GM (1976) Blood lipid responses to decompression sickness. Final report. US Navy NR Proj. Report 101-791

  • Owen JA, Iggo B, Scandrett FJ, Stewart CP (1954) The determination of creatinine in plasma or serum, and in urine: a critical examination. Biochem J 58:426–437

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul GW, Hassett RJ, Reiss OK (1977) Formation of lung surfactant films from intact lamellar bodies. Proc Natl Acad Sci [USA] 74:3617–3620

    Google Scholar 

  • Philp RB (1964) The ameliorative effects of heparin and depolymerized hyaluronate on decompression sickness in rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 42:819–829

    Google Scholar 

  • Philp RB (1974) A review of blood changes associated with compression-decompression: relationship to decompression sickness. Undersea Biomed Res 1:117–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Philp RB, Gowdey CW, Prasad M (1967) Changes in blood lipid concentration and cell counts following decompression sickness in rats and the influence of dietary lipid. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 45:1047–1059

    Google Scholar 

  • Radomski MW, Bennett PB (1970) Metabolic changes in man during short exposure to high pressure. Aerosp Med 41:309–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosalki SB (1967) An improved procedure for serum creatine phosphokinase determination. J Lab Clin Med 69:696–705

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer MP, Clarke HF (1972) Predordial monitoring of pulmonary gas embolism and decompression bubbles. Aerosp Med 43:762–767

    Google Scholar 

  • Tietz NW (1970) Fundamentals of clinical chemistry. WB Saunders, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Trudeau DL, Freier EF (1967) Determination of calcium in urine and serum by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Clin Chem 13:101–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Vlasov VV (1981) Significance of hematological changes in resistance to decompression. Kosm Biol Aviokosm Med 15:87–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Wacker WEC, Ulmer DD, Vallee BL (1956) Metalloenzymes and myocardial infarction: II. Malic and lactic dehydrogenase activities and zinc concentrations in serum. N Engl J Med 255:499–456

    Google Scholar 

  • Walder DN (1948) Serum surface tension and its relation to the decompression sickness of aviators. J Physiol [Lond] 107:43 P-44 P

    Google Scholar 

  • Walder DN (1949) Factors affecting the static surface tension of serum. J Physiol [Lond] 108:51 P

    Google Scholar 

  • Waligora JM, Horrigan DJ, Jauchem JR, Conkin J (1984) Detection of incipient altitude decompression sickness with Doppler sensors in flight. In: Goodhart ME (ed) Research and technology annual report 1984, NASA Publication TM-58263. National Aeronautics and Space Administration — Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, p 74

    Google Scholar 

  • Waligora JM, Horrigan DJ Jr, Conkin J, Jauchem JR (1985) The effect of multiple simulated extravehicular activity (EVA) decompressions over a 72-hour period on symptom and bubble incidence. Aviat Space Environ Med 56:483

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams FG (1964) Microzone electrophoresis of serum proteins. In: Sunderman FW, Sunderman FW Jr (eds) Serum proteins and the dysproteinemias. JB Lipincott, Philadelphia, pp 125–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Woo J, Treuting J, Cannon DC (1979) Metabolic intermediates and inorganic ions. In: Henry JB (ed) Clinical diagnosis and management by laboratory methods, 16th edn, vol 1. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 259–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Wroblewski F, LaDue JS (1956) Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase in cardiac and hepatic disease. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 91:569–571

    Google Scholar 

  • Yurova KS (1978) Effects of endogenous factors on the process of gas bubble formation in the body related to decompression. Kosm Biol Aviokosm Med 12:63–67

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Branch, SD 3, National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Johnson Space Center, 77058, Houston, TX, USA

    James R. Jauchem, James M. Waligora, Johnny Conkin, David J. Horrigan Jr. & Philip C. Johnson Jr.

Authors
  1. James R. Jauchem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James M. Waligora
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Johnny Conkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. David J. Horrigan Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Philip C. Johnson Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jauchem, J.R., Waligora, J.M., Conkin, J. et al. Blood biochemical factors in humans resistant and susceptible to formation of venous gas emboli during decompression. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 55, 68–73 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422896

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422896

Key words

Search

Navigation