serum and stimulated saliva c-reactive protein changes in altitude chamber

Objectives: the object of the research was to examine stimulated saliva and serum c-reactive protein (hs-crp) prior and following the experience of hypobaric hypoxia process (ehhp) in an altitude chamber in aviators. methods: a total of 40 healthy aircrew (age: 31.8 ± 6.0 years; bmi: 25.6 ± 2.7 kg/cm^2 ) experienced hypobaric chamber. hs-crp levels were assayed in stimulated whole saliva and serum before and after intervention by the elisa method and were statistically analyzed by the paired student’s t test. results: mean serum hs-crp concentration was significantly increased following intervention (before: 1.78 ± 0.33 µg/ml versus after: 2.58 ± 0.45 µg/ml) (p = 0.02). stimulated saliva hs-crp level was also significantly higher following ehhp (1.71 ± 0.17 ng/ml) compared to before experiencing it (0.79 ± 0.12 ng/ml, p = 0.007). conclusions: it seems that the salivary and serum levels of hs-crp rise following the experience of hypobaric hypoxia process.