Plasma Volume and Vascular Permeability during Hypoxia and Carbon Monoxide Exposure

Abstract

The effect on plasma volume and capillary permeability to albumin of high. altitude (3454 m) and of carbon monoxide (CO) was investigated during acute exposure (12 hours) and more prolonged exposure (8 days). Prolonged exposure to CO resulted in a decrease or no change in plasma volume, while prolonged exposure to hypoxia showed a more marked decrease in plasma volume. Acute exposure to hypoxia gave no change or a decrease in plasma volume. No changes were found in plasma volume during acute exposure to CO, although the results probably were overestimated due to an increase in capillary permeability. Capillary permeability was unchanged during exposure to hypoxia. From the present results it seems justified to conclude that CO have a more pronounced effect on the permeability of the capillaries to albumin than hypoxia alone, although the explanation for this finding could be that the tissue hypoxia was more severe in the CO experiments than during hypoxia.