Hemodynamic characteristics of high-altitude headache following acute high altitude exposure at 3700 m in young Chinese men

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify the systemic and cerebral hemodynamic characteristics and their roles in high-altitude headache (HAH) among young Chinese men following acute exposure. METHODS: The subjects (n = 385) were recruited in June and July of 2012. They completed case report form questionnaires, as well as heart rate (HR), blood pressure, echocardiogram and transcranial Doppler examinations at 3700 m following a two-hour plane flight. A subgroup of 129 participants was examined at two altitudes (500 and 3700 m). RESULTS: HAH was characterized by increased HR and cardiac output (CO) and lower saturation pulse oxygen (SpO(2)) (all p < 0.05). The change in tricuspid regurgitation was also different between the HAH positive (HAH+) and HAH negative (HAH-) subjects. Furthermore, the HAH+ subjects exhibited faster mean (V(m)), systolic (V(s)) and diastolic (V(d)) velocities in the basilar artery (BA; all p < 0.05) and a faster V(d) ( 25.96 ± 4.97 cm/s vs. 24.76 ± 4.76 cm/s, p = 0.045) in the left vertebral artery (VA). The bilateral VA asymmetry was also significantly different between the two groups. The pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) of left VA were lower in the HAH subjects (p < 0.05) and were negatively correlated with HAH (p < 0.05). Baseline CO and V(m) in left VA (or right MCA in different regressions) were independent predictors for HAH, whereas CO/HR and ΔV(d) (V(d) difference between bilateral VAs) were independent risk factors for HAH at 3700 m. CONCLUSIONS: HAH was characterized, in part, by increased systemic hemodynamics and posterior cerebral circulation, which was reflected by the BA and left VA velocities, and lower arterial resistance and compliance. Furthermore, baseline CO and V(m) in left VA or right MCA at sea level were independent predictors for HAH, whilst bilateral VA asymmetry may contribute to the development of HAH at high altitude. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s10194-015-0527-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.