Echocardiographic and Tissue Doppler Imaging of Cardiac Adaptation to High Altitude in Native Highlanders Versus Acclimatized Lowlanders

High-altitude exposure is a cause of pulmonary hypertension and decreased exercise capacity, but associated changes in cardiac function remain incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular function in acclimatized Caucasian lowlanders compared with native Bolivian highlanders at high altitudes. Standard echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging studies were performed in 15 healthy lowlanders at sea level;