Where the O2 goes to: preservation of human fetal oxygen delivery and consumption at high altitude

Fetal growth is decreased at high altitude (> 2700 m). We hypothesized that variation in fetal O-2 delivery might account for both the altitude effect and the relative preservation of fetal growth in multigenerational natives to high altitude. Participants were 168 women of European or Andean ancestry living at 3600 m or 400 m. Ancestry was genetically confirmed. Umbilical vein blood flow was measured using ultrasound and Doppler. Cord blood samples permitted calculation of fetal O2 delivery and consumption. Andean fetuses had greater blood flow and oxygen delivery than Europeans and weighed more at birth, regardless of altitude (+ 208 g, P < 0.0001). Fetal blood flow was decreased at 3600m (P < 0.0001); the decrement was similar in both ancestry groups. Altitude-associated decrease in birth weight was greater in Europeans (-417 g) than Andeans (-228 g, P < 0.005). Birth weight at 3600m was > 200 g lower for Europeans at any given level of blood flow or O2 delivery. Fetal haemoglobin concentration was increased, P-CO2 decreased, and the fetal P-O2/S-O2 curve was left-shifted at 3600 m. Fetuses receiving less O2 extracted more (r(2) = 0.35, P < 0.0001). These adaptations resulted in similar fetal O2 delivery and consumption across all four groups. Increased umbilical venous O-2 delivery correlated with increased fetal O2 consumption per kg weight (r(2) = 0.50, P < 0.0001). Blood flow (r(2) = 0.16, P < 0.001) and O-2 delivery (r(2) = 0.17, P < 0.001) correlated with birth weight at 3600 m, but not at 400 m (r(2) = 0.04, and 0.03, respectively). We concluded that the most pronounced difference at high altitude is reduced fetal blood flow, but fetal haematological adaptation and fetal capacity to increase O-2 extraction indicates that deficit in fetal oxygen delivery is unlikely to be causally associated with the altitude- and ancestry-related differences in fetal growth.