Measuring the ventilatory response to hypoxia

• DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.138883
• Publication Date: 2007-08-24T00:35:17Z
• Authors: James Duffin
• Keywords: Hypoxia; Hypoxic ventilatory response

After defining the current approach to measuring hypoxic ventilatory response this paper explains why method is not appropriate for comparisons between individuals or conditions, and does adequately measure parameters of peripheral chemoreflex. A measurement regime therefore proposed that incorporates three procedures. The first procedure measures chemoreflex responsiveness both hypoxia CO(2) in terms hypoxia's effects on sensitivity recruitment threshold CO(2). second third procedures employ methods isocapnic poikilocapnic responses hypoxia, respectively, over a period 20 min. used determine time course characteristics decline shows environment. incorporating these will permit detailed assessment allows be made different physiological environmental conditions.