Can a week at sea level ease strain on the Heart's blood vessels?
NCT ID NCT07804524
First seen Sep 04, 2026 · Last updated Sep 04, 2026
Summary
This trial asks whether a one-week stay at sea level can lower blood pressure in the lungs of people with pulmonary arterial hypertension who live permanently above 2600 meters. Researchers will compare heart and lung measurements taken at high altitude with those taken after several days at sea level. The study includes 20 adults, some with the condition and some healthy, to see how the body responds to the change in elevation.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Descent from high altitude (2850m) to sea level for 7 days
- What this could lead to
- If moving to sea level lowers lung blood pressure, it could point toward altitude changes as a way to ease symptoms or guide care for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension living high up.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is small and early, with only 20 participants, and it measures short-term effects over one week. Results may not apply to everyone or lead to a lasting treatment.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Sep 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients aged 18-80 years and of all genders * Permanent residence \> 2600 m * Diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension PAH (PAHHA-Group) according to guidelines * Patients are stable on therapy * NYHA (new york heart association) functional class I-III * written informed consent to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: * Age \<18 years or \>80 years * unstable condition * Patients who cannot follow the study investigations * Patient permanently living \< 2600m. * Patients who traveled and stayed overnight at altitudes \<2000 m in the past 4 weeks. * Patients with moderate to severe concomitant lung disease (FEV1\<70% or forced vital capacity \<70%), severe parenchymal lung disease, severe smokers (\>20 cigarettes/day) * Severely hypoxemic patients at 2850m permanently having persistent SpO2 (oxygen saturation by pulseoximetry) \<80% on ambient air. * Patient with a non-corrected ventricular septum defect * Relevant concomitant other disease of the heart, kidney, liver, blood (anemia hemoglobin\<11 g/dl)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University Hospital of Zurich
Zurich, 8091, Switzerland
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a week at sea level ease the strain of High-Altitude lung disease?
- Can a week at sea level ease the strain of High-Altitude heart disease?
- Can a week at sea level reset lung pressure for high-altitude dwellers?
- Can a week at sea level ease strain on High-Altitude hearts?
- Can a week at sea level ease the strain of High-Altitude living on the lungs?
- Can a short trip to sea level reset the lungs of high-altitude dwellers?