An interventional study of Re-Ascent sea level to 2850m in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), Pulmonary Vascular Disease and Six-minute Walk Test, sponsored by Silvia Ulrich Somaini. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-01.
Sponsored by Silvia Ulrich Somaini · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
To study the effect of a re-ascent after a one-week stay at sea level (after prior descent from 2850m) to high altitude (Quito Ecuador: 2850m) on six-minute walking distance and other scores in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension PAH, who live permanently >2600m.
The aim of this research is to investigate the six-minute walking distance and other scores before and after re-ascent (sea level for 7 days vs. re-ascent to 2850m) in patients with diagnosed pulmonary arterial hypertension according to guidelines, who permanently live at high altitude over 2600m.
699 studies on the registry are indexed under Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; 140 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 20 is below the median of 40 across 477 interventional studies indexed under Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
Browse Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension studies →Silvia Ulrich Somaini is the lead sponsor of 17 studies on the registry; 16 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
From a breathing test (spirometry): how much air you can blow out in the first second. Often given as a percentage of what is expected for your age, height and sex.
The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).
NYHA class (heart failure)
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
FEV1
From a breathing test (spirometry): how much air you can blow out in the first second. Often given as a percentage of what is expected for your age, height and sex.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hemoglobin (Hb)
The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Assessment of six-minute walking distance 6MWD and other scores after 7 days at sea level and after re-ascent from sea level back to 2850m by bus (in one day)
Behavioral: Re-Ascent sea level to 2850m
After 7 days at sea level return/re-ascent to their usual living altitude at 2850m
Six-minute walking distance after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in six-minute walking distance 6MWD between sea level (after one-week stay) and day after re-ascent at 2850m in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
SpO2 at rest and end-exercise after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in SpO2 (peripheral oxygen saturation) at rest and end-exercise between sea level (after one-week stay) and Day after re-ascent to 2850m in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
Heart rate at rest and end-exercise after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in heart rate at rest and end-exercise between sea level (after one-week stay) and Day after re-ascent to 2850m in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
Blood pressure at rest and end-exercise after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in blood pressure at rest and end-exercise between sea level (after one-week stay) and Day after re-ascent to 2850m in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
Dyspnea and leg discomfort sensation after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in dyspnea and leg discomfort sensation (assessed with BORG-CR10-Scale, Category Rating 0-10 with 10 being the most dyspnea/leg discomfort) at rest and end-exercise between sea level (after one-week stay) and day after re-ascent to 2850m in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
NYHA functional class after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in NYHA functional class (New York Heart Association Class I-IV, IV being the worst) at rest and end-exercise between sea level (after one-week stay) and day after re-ascent to 2850m in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
Quality of life after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in quality of life score (EmPHasis-10: Score with 10 questions and 0-50 points, higher scores indicating poorer quality of life) between sea level (after one-week stay) and day after re-ascent to 2850m in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
General well-being after re-ascent to 2850m
Difference/change in general well-being (Visual Analog Scale 10cm: the higher, the worse) between sea level (after one-week stay) and day after re-ascent to 2850m in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: From Day 5-7 at sea level to day after re-ascent
Six-minute walking distance pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in six-minute walking distance (6MWD) at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
SpO2 at rest and end-exercise pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in SpO2 (peripheral oxygen saturation) at rest and end-exercise at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Heart rate at rest and end-exercise pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in heart rate at rest and end-exercise at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Blood pressure at rest and end-exercise pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in blood pressure at rest and end-exercise at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Dyspnea and leg discomfort pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in dyspnea and leg discomfort (assessed with BORG-CR10-Scale, Category Rating 0-10 with 10 being the most dyspnea/leg discomfort) at rest and end-exercise at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
NYHA functional class pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in NYHA functional class (New York Heart Association Class I-IV, IV being the worst) at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Quality of life pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in quality of life (EmPHasis-10: Score with 10 questions and 0-50 points, higher scores indicating poorer quality of life) at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
General well-being pre-descent to after re-ascent
Difference/change in general well-being (Visual Analog Scale 10cm: the higher, the worse) at 2850m with a one-week stay at sea level in between (day pre-descent vs. day after re-ascent) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Time frame: Baseline at 2850m followed by a one-week stay at sea level to the day after re-ascent back to 2850m (time frame approximately 11 days)
Plan to share: Yes — Data will be provided upon request and based on a clear intention reviewed by an ethical review board.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension →
Silvia Ulrich Somaini