Does Decreased Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs for Carbon Monoxide Constitute a Risk of Decompression Sickness in Occupational Divers?

Brice Loddé, Marie-Agnès Giroux-Metges, Hubert Galinat, Hèlène Kerspern, Richard Pougnet, Philippe Saliou, François Guerrero and Pierre Lafère ()
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Brice Loddé: ORPHY Laboratory, EA 4324, Western Brittany University (UBO), 29238 Brest, France
Marie-Agnès Giroux-Metges: ORPHY Laboratory, EA 4324, Western Brittany University (UBO), 29238 Brest, France
Hubert Galinat: Department of Biological Hematology, Brest University Hospital, 29609 Brest, France
Hèlène Kerspern: Department of Biochemistry and Pharmaco-Toxicology, Brest University Hospital, 29609 Brest, France
Richard Pougnet: Occupational Diseases Center, Brest University Hospital, 29609 Brest, France
Philippe Saliou: ISERM, EFS, UMR 1078, GGB, Infection Control Unit, Western Brittany University (UBO), 29238 Brest, France
François Guerrero: ORPHY Laboratory, EA 4324, Western Brittany University (UBO), 29238 Brest, France
Pierre Lafère: ORPHY Laboratory, EA 4324, Western Brittany University (UBO), 29238 Brest, France

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: Long-term alterations of pulmonary function (mainly decreased airway conductance and capacity of the lungs to diffuse carbon monoxide (DLCO)) have been described after hyperbaric exposures. However, whether these alterations convey a higher risk for divers’ safety has never been investigated before. The purpose of the present pilot study was to assess whether decreased DLCO is associated with modifications of the physiological response to diving. In this case–control observational study, 15 “fit-to-dive” occupational divers were split into two groups according to their DLCO measurements compared to references values, either normal (control) or reduced (DLCO group). After a standardized 20 m/40 min dive in a sea water pool, the peak-flow, vascular gas emboli (VGE) grade, micro-circulatory reactivity, inflammatory biomarkers, thrombotic factors, and plasmatic aldosterone concentration were assessed at different times post-dive. Although VGE were recorded in all divers, no cases of decompression sickness (DCS) occurred. Compared to the control, the latency to VGE peak was increased in the DLCO group (60 vs. 30 min) along with a higher maximal VGE grade ( p < 0.0001). P-selectin was higher in the DLCO group, both pre- and post-dive. The plasmatic aldosterone concentration was significantly decreased in the control group (−30.4 ± 24.6%) but not in the DLCO group. Apart from a state of hypocoagulability in all divers, other measured parameters remained unchanged. Our results suggest that divers with decreased DLCO might have a higher risk of DCS. Further studies are required to confirm these preliminary results.

Keywords: decompression sickness; diving; hemostasis; inflammation; renin–angiotensin system; respiratory function test; vascular gas emboli (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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