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NCT Number: NCT07562464

Remote Ischemic Conditioning for High Altitude Polycythemia in High-Altitude Immigrant Populations

This study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled clinical trial. The participants are adult patients with high-altitude polycythemia who have been long-term residents (for >6 months) in regions at an altitude of ≥2500 meters. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: a conventional medication group and a remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) intervention group. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized 90-day RIC intervention, as an add-on to conventional medication, in managing high-altitude polycythemia.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Aged ≥18 years, of either sex; Continuous residence in a high-altitude region (≥2500 meters) for more than 6 months, with no plan for long-term departure from the plateau during the study period; Meeting the diagnostic criteria for high-altitude polycythemia; Willing to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Other hematologic diseases, such as anemia or abnormal leukocytosis; Severe dysfunction of vital organs (e.g., heart, liver, kidney, lungs); Active malignancy, uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, active autoimmune disease, or poorly controlled diabetes mellitus; Pregnancy, planned pregnancy, or lactation for female participants; Contraindications to RIC (e.g., severe peripheral arterial disease, venous thrombosis, or soft tissue injury in the upper limbs); Any other condition deemed by the investigator to be unsuitable for participation in the study.

Treatment and study plan

RIC

Device

Participants will undergo a 7-day remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) intervention prior to ascending to high altitude. On the day following the completion of the RIC intervention, they will ascend to a high-altitude region (>2500 m). Standardized RIC treatment will be administered using a dedicated RIC device. Each intervention session consists of 5 cycles. Every cycle includes 5 minutes of bilateral upper limb ischemia followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion. The cuff pressure for inducing ischemia is set at 200 mmHg. The intervention is administered twice daily for 90 consecutive days.

Primary outcomes

  1. Percentage change in hemoglobin and hematocrit from baseline.

    Time frame: 90 days

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Capital Medical University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
May 1, 2026
Registry last updated
May 1, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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