Dissertation Research: High Altitude Pregnancy and Infant Birth Weight

本研究的目的是测量直接影响高海拔地区胎儿宫内生长的母体氧转运。这项研究将检验这样一种假设，即高海拔地区的胎儿生长迟缓源于子宫血流减少导致的胎儿氧气供应减少。居住在10,200英尺高空的孕妇将参与这项研究。孕妇血流的测量将通过使用超声波仪器的非侵入性技术进行，该仪器测量平均血流速度。该仪器可以定位为测量子宫动脉的流量，子宫动脉为胎儿提供血液。%人类学家对高海拔地区的研究特别感兴趣，因为它们有助于我们了解人类适应特定环境压力--缺氧的机制(包括文化和生理机制)。胎儿生长迟缓是高海拔地区最有文献记载的影响之一。这种迟缓发生的机制目前尚不清楚。本研究将探讨高原地区影响胎儿血流量的因素及其与新生儿出生体重的关系。

The purpose of this study is to measure maternal oxygen transport which directly influences intrauterine growth at high altitude. The study will test the hypothesis that fetal growth retardation at high altitude stems from a decrease in fetal oxygen supply caused by a reduction in uterine blood flow. Pregnant women living at 10,200 feet will participate in the study. Measurement of maternal blood flow will be conducted through a noninvasive technique using an ultrasound instrument which measures mean blood flow velocity. The instrument can be positioned to measure flow in the uterine artery which supplies blood to the fetus. %%% Studies at high altitude are of particular interest to anthropologists because they help us to understand mechanisms (both cultural and physiological) by which populations adapt to a specific environmental stress, hypoxia. Fetal growth retardation is one of the most well-documented effects of high altitude. The mechanism by which this retardation takes place is not currently known. This study will address factors affecting blood flow to the fetus and their relationship to infant birth weight at high altitude.