Serum biochemical changes in fighter pilots before and after plateau training

Objective To evaluate the influence of plateau hypoxia environment on the parameters of liver, renal, cardiac and metabolic functions of fighter pilots, and provide the basis for the high altitude aeromedical service. Methods Serum biochemical indices were examined and compared among 35 fighter pilots before and after 3-month high altitude training by automatic biochemistry analyzer and the results were analyzed by paired t-test. Results Compared with those before plateau training, pilots' fasting serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels after plateau training were decreased slightly or significantly (t=2.042, 10.329, 2.275, P<0.05 or <0.01), but were still in the normal range. Direct bilirubin (DBIL), creatinine (Cr), Beta2-microglobuline (β2-MG), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine kinase (CK), total cholesterol (TC) were significantly higher than those before the training (t=3.792-12.454, P<0.01), but were basically in the normal range or approaching to upper limits; uric acid (UA) was significantly higher than that before training and the normal (t=4.373, P<0.01); alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), total protein (TP), cystatin C (Cys C), glucose (Glu), triglycerides (TG) levels did not change significantly. Conclusions This study elucidated that high altitude environment can affect pilot's partial liver, renal, cardiac and metabolic functions. So the preventive measures should be strengthened. Key words: altitude; liver function tests; kidney function tests; uric acid; pilots