Andean women have greater uterine artery (UTA) enlargement during pregnancy than european residents of 3600 m.

Abstract

Abstract. Babies weigh less at high altitude but multi-generational high-altitude residents are protected from this birth weight decline (Moore HAMB 2001). Objective: We asked if higher arterial oxygenation and/or blood flow raised uteroplacental O2 delivery in multigenerational Andean vs. shorter duration European high-altitude residents. Methods: Subjects were 45 women of Andean (n = 50, And) or European (n = 11, Eur) ancestry who had resided in La Paz, Bolivia since birth (And) or the past 4 years (Eur). Ancestry was confirmed by genetic markers. Studies were performed at weeks 20, 30, 36 of pregnancy and again 4 mo postpartum as an index of the non-pregnant state. Arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) was measured by oximetry, hemoglobin concentration by spectrophotometry, and UtA blood flow calculated from vessel diameter and flow velocity obtained by Doppler ultrasound (ATL 3000 and an investigational Doppler) …