The Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude Diseases
Authors: Matiram Pun
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2005)

Letters5 April 2005The Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude DiseasesMatiram PunMatiram PunFrom Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-142-7-200504050-00023 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:John B. West, an icon in the field of respiratory physiology, has written an excellent review on the physiologic basis of high-altitude disease (1). The review nicely described acute mountain sickness, high-altitude cerebral edema, and high-altitude pulmonary edema. Dr. West also discussed chronic mountain sickness, subacute mountain sickness, and retinal hemorrhages, disorders that are often overlooked.However, I do believe that some points were not adequately highlighted. First, Dr. West's review should have included more information about focal neurologic deficits, which are important to the diagnosis of high-altitude problems and many other subclinical diseases that manifest in ...References1. West JB. The physiologic basis of high-altitude diseases. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141:789-800. [PMID: 15545679] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Hanaoka M, Droma Y, Naramoto A, Honda T, Kobayashi T, Kubo K. Vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with high-altitude pulmonary edema. J Appl Physiol. 2003;94:1836-40. [PMID: 12524373] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Mortimer H, Patel S, Peacock AJ. The genetic basis of high-altitude pulmonary oedema. Pharmacol Ther. 2004;101:183-92. [PMID: 14761704] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Mosby's Drug Consult. CD-ROM. 2002. Google Scholar5. Gertsch JH, Basnyat B, Johnson EW, Onopa J, Holck PS. Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled comparison of ginkgo biloba and acetazolamide for prevention of acute mountain sickness among Himalayan trekkers: the prevention of high altitude illness trial (PHAIT). BMJ. 2004;328:797. [PMID: 15070635] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Matiram PunAffiliations: From Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude Diseases John B. West The Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude Diseases John B. West The Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude Diseases Buddha Basnyat The Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude Diseases Anil Pandit Metrics Cited byHigh-altitude illnesses: Old stories and new insights into the pathophysiology, treatment and preventionHigh-altitude chronic hypoxia ameliorates obesity-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice by regulating mitochondrial and AMPK signaling 5 April 2005Volume 142, Issue 7Page: 591-592KeywordsAltitude sicknessEdemaHeadachesHemorrhageNitric oxidePathogenesisPulmonary diseasesRespiratory physiologySerotoninVascular endothelial growth factor ePublished: 5 April 2005 Issue Published: 5 April 2005 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2005 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...