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The effect of high altitude on nasal nitric oxide levels

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether nasal nitric oxide (nNO) levels change in relation to high altitude in a natural setting where the weather conditions were favorable. The present study included 41 healthy volunteers without a history of acute rhinosinusitis within 3 weeks and nasal polyposis. The study group consisted of 31 males (76 %) and 10 females (24 %) and the mean age of the study population was 38 ± 10 years. The volunteers encamped for 2 days in a mountain village at an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level (masl) and proceeded to highlands at an altitude of 2,200 masl throughout the day. The measurements of nNO were done randomly, either first at the mountain village or at sea level. Each participant had nNO values both at sea level and at high altitude at the end of the study. The nNO values of sea level and high altitude were compared to investigate the effect of high altitude on nNO levels. The mean of average nNO measurements at the high altitude was 74.2 ± 41 parts-per-billion (ppb) and the mean of the measurements at sea level was 93.4 ± 45 ppb. The change in nNO depending on the altitude level was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The current investigation showed that nNO levels were decreased at high altitude even if the weather conditions were favorable, such as temperature, humidity, and wind.

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The authors state that they have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Istanbul Surgery Hospital, Ferah Sok. No: 22 Şişli, Istanbul, 34365, Turkey

    Aytug Altundag

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gulhane Military Medicine Academy Haydarpaşa Training Hospital, Istanbul, 34668, Turkey

    Murat Salihoglu

  3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Amasya University S.S. Training and Research Hospital, Amasya, 05100, Turkey

    Melih Cayonu

  4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Cemal Cingi

  5. Department of Neurology, Gulhane Military Medicine Academy Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, 34668, Turkey

    Hakan Tekeli

  6. Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Thomas Hummel

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  1. Aytug Altundag
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  2. Murat Salihoglu
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  3. Melih Cayonu
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  4. Cemal Cingi
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  5. Hakan Tekeli
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  6. Thomas Hummel
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Correspondence to Aytug Altundag.

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Altundag, A., Salihoglu, M., Cayonu, M. et al. The effect of high altitude on nasal nitric oxide levels. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 271, 2583–2586 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-014-3170-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-014-3170-8

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