Hematological parameters of high and low altitude Tibetan populations

Abstract

High altitude hypoxia is believed to be experienced at elevations more than 2500 meters. A few studies have shed light on the biochemical aspects of high altitude acclimatization that profoundly included the subjects sojourning to the high altitude from low altitude and observation of the transient changes. However, information regarding the difference between the adapted people in high altitude and their counterpart, who reside in the low altitude are lacking. To address that issue, we have measured various hematological parameters and level of serum erythropoietin (EPO) in Tibetan population, who are residing in both high and low altitudes. We observed significant difference (p value < 0.0001) between high and low altitude Tibetan, in various hematological parameters, including red blood cells (RBC) count, hematocrit (HCT) or packed cell volume (PCV), and hemoglobin concentration (Hb). In case of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), significant difference was observed only in females (p value < 0.0001). Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was significantly different between both males and females, but age was a potential confounder. There was no significant difference in serum EPO level between these two groups, either in males or females, which might be due to blunted erythropoietin response in the Tibetan population. We have also analyzed correlation between serum EPO with Hb and serum EPO with HCT and found no significant correlation. In multiple regression analysis, low altitude and male-gender showed significant impact on both Hb and HCT. In conclusion, our study suggests significant perturbation of hematological parameters, when native high altitude populations migrated to low altitude and inhabited for a long period.