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ABSTRACT: Importance
Astronauts returning from long-duration spaceflight experience ocular remodeling related to cephalad fluid shifts induced by microgravity. It is hypothesized that the absence of diurnal reductions in intracranial pressure in microgravity creates a low but persistent pressure gradient at the posterior aspect of the eye, which results in ocular remodeling and space-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) over many months.Objective
To determine whether partial reintroduction of footward fluid shifts during simulated microgravity via lower body negative pressure (LBNP) during sleep attenuates choroid engorgement, an early marker of ocular remodeling related to SANS.Design, setting, and participants
Between May 2019 and February 2020, participants with no major cardiovascular, kidney, or ophthalmic disease completed 3 days of supine (0°) bed rest with and 3 days without 8 hours of nightly LBNP in a randomized, crossover design. This single-center investigation took place at the UT Southwestern Medical Center. All analyses were conducted blinded to condition and time point.Interventions
Eight hours of nightly LBNP (-20 mm Hg) vs no LBNP.Main outcomes and measures
The primary outcome was the change in choroid area and volume after 3 days of bed rest measured by optical coherence tomography.Results
Of 10 participants, 5 were female, the mean (SD) age was 29 (9) years, and the age range was 18 to 55 years. Central venous pressure increased from the seated to supine position (mean [SD], seated: -2.3 [2.0] vs supine: 6.9 [2.0] mm Hg; P < .001), leading to choroid engorgement over 3 days of bed rest (Δ area: +0.09 mm2 [95% CI, 0.04-0.13]; P = .001; Δ volume: +0.37 mm3 [95% CI, 0.19-0.55]; P = .001). Nightly LBNP caused a sustained reduction in supine central venous pressure (mean [SD], 5.7 [2.2] mm Hg to 1.2 [1.4 mm Hg]; P < .001) and attenuated the increase in choroid area (74%) (Δ: 0.02 mm2 [95% -0.02 to 0.06]; P = .01) and volume (53%) (Δ: 0.17 mm3 [95% CI, 0.01-0.34]; P = .05) compared with control.Conclusions and relevance
Nightly LBNP reinstated a footward fluid shift and mitigated the increase in choroid area and volume. LBNP during sleep may be an effective countermeasure for ocular remodeling and SANS during long-duration space missions.
SUBMITTER: Hearon CM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8662537 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
JAMA ophthalmology 20220101 1
<h4>Importance</h4>Astronauts returning from long-duration spaceflight experience ocular remodeling related to cephalad fluid shifts induced by microgravity. It is hypothesized that the absence of diurnal reductions in intracranial pressure in microgravity creates a low but persistent pressure gradient at the posterior aspect of the eye, which results in ocular remodeling and space-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) over many months.<h4>Objective</h4>To determine whether partial reintroduct ...[more]