High AltitudeNCT07804589
Assessment of Total Pulmonary Resistance sPAP/CO Between Sea Level LA vs. High Altitude HA After Re-ascent in Healthy Individuals
A study testing Re-Ascent from sea level to 2850m in people with High Altitude and Healthy, run by Silvia Ulrich Somaini at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
To study the effect of a re-ascent after a one-week stay at sea level (after prior descent from 2850m) to high altitude (Quito Ecuador: 2850m) on pulmonary resistance (sPAP/CO) and other hemodynamic outcomes in healthy individuals, who live permanently >2600m. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- High Altitude, Healthy, Healthy Adult
- What is being tested?
- Re-Ascent from sea level to 2850m
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 14 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 25 Sep 2026to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 18-80 years and of all genders
- Permanent residence > 2600 m.
- healthy: no self-perceived cardiopulmonary disease limiting daily activities
- written informed consent to participate in the study.
Who cannot join
- Age <18 years or >80 years
- Participants who cannot follow the study investigations
- Participants permanently living < 2600m.
- Participants who traveled and stayed overnight at altitudes <2000 m in the past 4 weeks.
- any self-perceived cardiopulmonary disease limiting daily activities
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Michael Furian, Prof. Dr. sc. ETH contact
About this study
Official title: Effect of a One-week Descent From 2850m to Sea Level and Re-ascent in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Healthy Controls Permanently Living > 2600m on Pulmonary Hemodynamics, Exercise Capacity, Blood Oxygenation, Sleep Disordered Breathing and Further Outcomes
To study the effect of a re-ascent after a one-week stay at sea level (after prior descent from 2850m) to high altitude (Quito Ecuador: 2850m) on pulmonary resistance (sPAP/CO) and other hemodynamic outcomes in healthy individuals, who live permanently >2600m.
Read the detailed description
The aim of this research is to investigate the pulmonary resistance (sPAP/CO) by echocardiography and other hemodynamic outcomes before and after re-ascent (sea level for 7 days vs. re-ascent to 2850m) in healthy individuals, who permanently live at high altitude over 2600m
- Conditions
- High Altitude, Healthy, Healthy Adult, High Altitude Effects, Pulmonary Resistance, Hemodynamic Changes
- Being tested
- Re-Ascent from sea level to 2850m
- Keywords
- Hypoxia, High Altitude, Pulmonary resistance, Health, Echocardiography, Hemodynamics
- Medical subject headings
- Altitude Sickness, Hypoxia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Re-Ascent from sea level to 2850mBehavioural
After 7 days at sea level return/re-ascent to their usual living altitude at 2850m
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Pulmonary resistance (sPAP/CO) at sea level and 2850m | Experimental | Assessment of pulmonary resistance (sPAP/CO) and other hemodynamic outcomes after 7 days at sea level and after re-ascent at 2850m Receives: Behavioral: Re-Ascent from sea level to 2850m |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pulmonary resistance (sPAP/CO) after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference in sPAP/CO by echocardiography between sea level (after one-week stay) and day after re-ascent at 2850m in healthy individuals
Measured: From Day 5-7 at sea level to the day after re-ascent
Secondary outcomes (21)
Tricuspid regurgitation velocity TRV after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in tricuspid regurgitation velocity TRV between sea level (after one-week stay) and day after re-ascent at 2850m in healthy individuals
Measured: From Day 5-7 at sea level to the day after re-ascent
Cardiac output CO after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in cardiac output CO between sea level (after one-week stay) and Day after re-ascent to 2850m in healthy individuals
Measured: From Day 5-7 at sea level to the day after re-ascent
Tricuspid annular plan systolic excursion TAPSE after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in tricuspid annular plan systolic excursion TAPSE between sea level (after one-week stay) and Day after re-ascent to 2850m in healthy individuals
Measured: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
Right ventricular strain after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in right ventricular strain between sea level (after one-week stay) and Day after re-ascent to 2850m in healthy individuals
Measured: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
Right atrial pressure RAP after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in rightatrial pressure RAP between sea level (after one-week stay) and Day after re-ascent to 2850m in healthy individuals
Measured: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
Fractional area change FAC after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in fractional area change FAC between sea level (after one-week stay) and Day after re-ascent to 2850m in healthy individuals
Measured: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
PaO2 after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in PaO2 (arterial blood gas analysis) between sea level (after one-week stay) and day after re-ascent to 2850m in healthy individuals
Measured: From Day 7 at sea level to day after re-ascent (time frame of 3 days)
PaCO2 after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in PaCO2 (arterial blood gas analysis) between sea level (after one-week stay) and day after re-ascent to 2850m in healthy individuals
Measured: From Day 7 at sea level to day after re-ascent (time frame of 3 days)
Hemoglobin after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in hemoglobin (arterial blood gas analysis) between sea level (after one-week stay) and day after re-ascent to 2850m in healthy individuals
Measured: From Day 7 at sea level to day after re-ascent (time frame of 3 days)
pH after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in pH (arterial blood gas analysis) between sea level (after one-week stay) and day after re-ascent to 2850m in healthy individuals
Measured: From Day 7 at sea level to day after re-ascent (time frame of 3 days)
Pulmonary resistance (sPAP/CO) pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in pulmonary resistance (sPAP/CO) at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in healthy individuals
Measured: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Tricuspid regurgitation velocity TRV pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in tricuspid regurgitation velocity TRV at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in healthy individuals
Measured: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Cardiac output CO pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in cardiac output CO at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in healthy individuals
Measured: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Tricuspid annular plan systolic excursion TAPSE pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in tricuspid annular plan systolic excursion TAPSE at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in healthy individuals
Measured: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Right ventricular strain pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in right ventricular strain at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in healthy individuals
Measured: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Right atrial pressure RAP pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in right atrial pressure at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in healthy individuals
Measured: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Fractional area change FAC pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in fractional area change FAC at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in healthy individuals
Measured: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
PaO2 pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in PaO2 (arterial blood gas analysis) at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in healthy individuals
Measured: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
PaCO2 pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in PaCO2 (arterial blood gas analysis) at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in healthy individuals
Measured: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Hemoglobin pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in hemoglobin (arterial blood gas analysis) at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in healthy individuals
Measured: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
pH pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in pH (arterial blood gas analysis) at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in healthy individuals
Measured: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Sep 2026
- Study start25 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion4 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for High AltitudeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Healthy individuals living permanently \> 2600m around Quito (Ecuador) will be assessed after 7 days at sea level and after re-ascent to 2850m
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 14 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Silvia Ulrich Somaini
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Silvia Ulrich Somaini, University of Zurich
- Investigators
- Silvia Ulrich, Principal investigator, University Hospital Zurich, Departement of PulmonologyRodrigo Hoyos, Principal investigator, Hospital Carlos Andrade Marin of Quito, Ecuador
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07804589
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Ec_LAvsHA_sPAP/CO_H
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Data will be provided upon request and based on a clear intention reviewed by an ethical review board.