High-altitude pulmonary hypertension: a pathophysiological entity to different diseases

High-altitude pulmonary hypertension.

High-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH) is a specific disease affecting populations that live at high elevations. The prevalence of HAPH among those residing at high altitudes needs to be further defined. Whereas reduction in nitric oxide production may be one mechanism for the development of HAPH, the roles of endothelin-1 and prostaglandin I₂ pathways in the pathogenesis of HAPH deserve f...

PULMONARY HYPERTENSION Phosphodiesterase type 5 and high altitude pulmonary hypertension

Background: This study explored phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibition as a strategy for treating high altitude pulmonary arterial hypertension (HAPH). Methods: 689 subjects (313 men) of mean (SD) age 44 (0.6) years living above 2500 m were screened for HAPH by medical examination and electrocardiography, and 188 (27%) met the criteria for right ventricular hypertrophy. 44 underwent cardiac...

Pulmonary hypertension in high-altitude chronic hypoxia: response to nifedipine.

Permanent residents at high altitude may develop excessive polycythaemia (H-Hb) and pulmonary hypertension, which often leads to cardiac failure. Inhibitors of calcium channels have been shown to reverse pulmonary hypertension in respiratory diseases and in primary pulmonary hypertension, but their efficiency has not been evaluated in high-altitude-induced pulmonary hypertension. Systolic pulmo...

High-altitude pulmonary edema in children with underlying cardiopulmonary disorders and pulmonary hypertension living at altitude.

BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension has not been described as a predisposing risk factor for high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) in children. Previous studies have shown an association of HAPE with abnormally increased pulmonary vasoreactivity to hypoxia but generally normal pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) after recovery. OBJECTIVE To describe HAPE of relatively rapid onset and its management ...

A Pathophysiological Approach to Understanding Pulmonary Hypertension in Cardiac Surgery