Studies on cold pressor response of subjects who suffered from frostbite at high altitude

Abstract

Seven lowlander soldiers who had 1st to 3rd degree of frostbite and 8 lowlander soldiers who recovered from high altitude pulmonary oedema were tested for cold pressor response at 260 m, 26°C, 6.8°C and 4,085 m, 26°C, 6.8°C. 8 lowlander soldiers (Control subjects) of comparable age group were tested for their cold pressor response at 260 m, 26°C and 3,300 m, 26°C. Another group of control subjects from the laboratory were also tested at 2,121 m, 26°C. There was a highly significant decrease in cold pressor response of the frostbite subjects at 260 m, 26°C and a very significant increase at 260 m, 6.8°C as compared to non-frostbite subjects. The subjects who recovered from high altitude pulmonary oedema did not show significant differences as compared with the control subjects. The results suggest certain basic physiological differences in regulation of supply of blood to the extremities under condition of general and local cold exposure.