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. 2005 May 1;95(9):1128-30.
doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2005.01.033.

Mechanism of spaceflight-induced changes in left ventricular mass

Richard L Summers  1 , David S Martin, Janice V Meck, Thomas G Coleman
Collaborators, Affiliations

Mechanism of spaceflight-induced changes in left ventricular mass

Richard L Summers et al. Am J Cardiol. .

Abstract

Decrements in left ventricular (LV) mass observed after microgravity exposure have been previously postulated to be a central component of spaceflight-induced cardiovascular deconditioning. In this study, echocardiographic measurements of LV mass in astronauts demonstrated a comparative 9.1% reduction in postflight LV mass that returned to preflight values by the third day of recovery. A ground-based study in normal subjects determined that these pre- to postflight LV mass changes could be reproduced by simple dehydration. Reductions in LV mass observed immediately after spaceflight may be secondary to simple physiologic fluid exchanges.

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