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Thromb Haemost 2008; 99(06): 1053-1059
DOI: 10.1160/TH07-11-0681
Blood Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Cellular Haemostasis
Schattauer GmbH

Fluid loss does not explain coagulation activation during air travel[*]

Anja J. M. Schreijer
1   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
2   Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
,
Suzanne C. Cannegieter
1   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
,
Marianna Caramella
3   Department of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
,
Joost C. M. Meijers
2   Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
,
Raymond T. Krediet
4   Department of Nephrology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
,
Ries M. Simons
5   Security and Safety, TNO Defence, Soesterberg, the Netherlands
,
Frits R. Rosendaal
1   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
6   Thrombosis and Haemostasis Research Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
7   Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 16 November 2007

Accepted after major revision 13 March 2008

Publication Date:
27 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

The mechanism of air travel-related venous thrombosis is unclear. Although immobility plays a pivotal role, other factors such as fluid loss may contribute. We investigated whether fluid loss occurred more in individuals with coagulation activation after air travel than in subjects without. As a secondary aim, we investigated whether fluid loss per se occurred during air travel. In this crossover study, 71 healthy volunteers were exposed to eight hours of air travel, eight hours immobilization in a cinema, and a daily-life control situation. Markers of fluid loss (haematocrit, serum osmolality and albumin) and of coagulation activation were measured before and after each exposure. The study included ll volunteers with and 55 volunteers without coagulation activation during the flight. The change in parameters of fluid loss was not different in volunteers with an activated clotting system from those without (difference between groups in haematocrit: −0.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.9 to 0.6). On a group level, mean haematocrit values decreased during all three exposures. However, in some individuals it increased, which occurred in more participants during the flight (34%; 95% CI 22 to 46) than during the daily-life situation (l9%; 95% CI 10 to 28). These findings do not support the hypothesis that fluid loss contributes to thrombus formation during air travel.

Keywords

Venous thrombosis - hypercoagulability - air travel - fluid loss - dehydration

* This study was done in the framework of the WRIGHT initiative (WHO Research Into Global Hazards of Travel). Investigators are listed at end of the article.


 

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