Why does blood coagulate more often in Ecuador?

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nmaria

If it is Quito, due to the altitude (almost 10.000 feet), people who live at high elevations adapt to the lower oxygen levels (lower oxygen pressure) with several physiological changes.
Here's a couple of links. You can search under "high altitude" + coagulation in yahoo or any other search engine.

"Background: Altitude illness refers to a group of syndromes that result from hypoxia; the target organs are the brain and the lung. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) are manifestations of the brain pathophysiology, while high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is that of the lung. Everyone traveling to altitude is at risk, regardless of level of physical fitness or previous altitude experience.
The high altitude environment generally refers to elevations over 1500 m (4900 ft). Moderate altitude, 2000-3500 m (6600-11,500 ft), includes the elevation of many ski resorts. Although arterial oxygen saturation is well maintained at these altitudes, low PO2 results in mild tissue hypoxia, and altitude illness is common. Very high altitude refers to elevations of 3500-5500 m (18,000 ft). Arterial oxygen saturation is not maintained in this range, and extreme hypoxemia can occur during sleep, with exercise, or with illness. HACE and HAPE are most common at these altitudes. Extreme altitude is over 5500 m; above this altitude, successful long-term acclimatization is not possible and in fact deterioration ensues. Individuals must progressively acclimatize to intermediate altitudes to reach extreme altitude."

"Platelet aggregation is the key process in primary hemostasis. Certain conditions such as hypoxia may induce platelet aggregation and lead to platelet sequestration primarily in the pulmonary microcirculation. We investigated the influence of high-altitude exposure on platelet function as part of a larger study on 30 subjects with a history of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and 10 healthy controls. All participants were studied in the evening and the next morning at low altitude (450 m) and after an ascent to high altitude (4,559 m). Platelet count, platelet aggregation (platelet function analyzer PFA100; using epinephrine and ADP as activators), plasma soluble P (sP)-selectin, and the coagulation parameters prothrombin fragments 1+2 and thrombin-antithrombin complex were measured."

"Background: It is well recognized that a hypercoagulable state exists when a person is exposed to high altitude environment. This may manifest as early thromboembolic episodes, which result in acute pulmonary embolism. On further exposure to high-altitude environment, the ongoing thrombogenesis has been implicated in the causation of subacute mountain sickness. Only anecdotal reports of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of leg veins at high altitude exist in literature and only two studies of this disease entity have been reported in literature. Aim: To report the high incidence of deep venous thrombosis of leg veins at high altitude, as compared to lowlands and define the disease entity High Altitude Induced Deep Venous Thrombosis (HADVT). Setting and Design: Twenty-eight cases of deep venous thrombosis of leg veins occurring in Indian soldiers presenting to a high altitude hospital at 11,800 feet, staying in HA for a prolonged period of time (>5 months), were studied. The incidence of patients presenting to this hospital was compared with the incidence of deep venous thrombosis in a hospital situated in the lowland. Results: The annual incidence of deep vein thrombosis in lowlanders exposed to high altitude was much higher (0.7/1000) than in soldiers staying in lowland (0.028/1000). The relative risk of deep vein thrombosis was much higher among soldiers at high altitude as compared to soldiers in the plains. Long-term stay of lowlanders at high altitude was associated with a 24.5 (95% Confidence limits 8.59 to 69.84) times risk of deep venous thrombosis of the calf veins as compared to those staying in low altitude. Conclusion: In view of the greatly increased risk of getting deep venous thrombosis in leg veins at high altitude, we wish to define this definite disease entity as High Altitude Induced Deep Venous Thrombosis (HADVT)."

Fresh2Death

because of ecuador's high altitude

redfelipe

If this is true - (I'm not sure myself) - maybe it's the lower pressure of the mountains.

lovetotravel

Not sure if it does or not but my guess would be because of the high altitude.

gordazeta

Are you serious? I've never heard of this before. Which part of Ecuador does it happen in? On the coast, in the mountains, or in the jungle?

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