Causes and Mechanisms of Space Hemolysis At High Altitudes

Causes and Mechanisms of Space Hemolysis At High Altitudes (ANEMIA)

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT05496309

Acronym

ANEMIA

Enrollment

Registered

2022-08-11

Start date

2024-05-02

Completion date

2024-09-15

Last updated

2025-03-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Anemia, Weightlessness

Brief summary

Anemia is a lack of red blood cells (RBCs) in the circulation. Because RBCs carry the oxygen your body needs to function, anemia can affect one's ability to stay awake, alert, and perform physical activities. Anemia may happen for several reasons, including increased RBC destruction. Anemia often occurs in people who have been in bed for long periods (e.g., if they are very sick) or have decreased mobility (anemia of immobility). Interestingly, astronauts who have left Earth and traveled in space also return anemic. In fact, 5 decades of NASA data showed that astronauts' anemia was more severe the longer they were in space. In another study, astronauts aboard the International Space Station were shown to destroy 54% more of their RBCs in space. RBC destruction may be the culprit of space anemia as well as anemia of immobility on Earth. The ANEMIA Study proposes to measure key aspects of RBC destruction in astronauts in space. These measures will test critical hypotheses on the effects of spaceflight on red blood cells.

Interventions

None listed

Study design

Observational model

COHORT

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

24 Years to 55 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Astronauts selected to fly on a space mission.

Exclusion criteria

* Astronauts not selected to fly on a space mission.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Hemolysis in astronauts is assessed using exhaled breath samples.	Before spaceflight.
Change from baseline hemolysis in astronauts is assessed during spaceflight using exhaled breath samples.	Baseline and during spaceflight.
Change from baseline hemolysis in astronauts is assessed after spaceflight, up to 1 month, using exhaled breath samples.	After spaceflight, up to 1 month.
Hemolysis in astronauts is assessed using blood markers CBC, reticulocytes, haptoglobin, bilirubin (total+direct), LDH, ferritin, iron, and TIBC.	Before spaceflight.
Change from baseline hemolysis in astronauts is assessed during spaceflight using blood markers CBC, reticulocytes, haptoglobin, bilirubin (total+direct), LDH, ferritin, iron, and TIBC.	Baseline and during spaceflight.
Change from baseline hemolysis in astronauts is assessed after spaceflight, up to 1 month, using blood markers CBC, reticulocytes, haptoglobin, bilirubin (total+direct), LDH, ferritin, iron, and TIBC.	After spaceflight, up to 1 month.

Countries

Canada

Outcome results