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 ...

In five men with a history of susceptibility to high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), hemodynamics and pulmonary gas exchange were measured at sea level, and again 24 hours following ascent to an altitude of 3,100 m. At sea level, all findings were essentially normal including a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) of 13.8 + 1.9 mm Hg. None of the subjects developed clinically detectable pulm...

In five men with a history of susceptibility to high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), hemodynamics and pulmonary gas exchange were measured at sea level, and again 24 hours following ascent to an altitude of 3,100 m. At sea level, all findings were essentially normal including a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) of 13.8 + 1.9 mm Hg. None of the subjects developed clinically detectable pulm...

BACKGROUND Exaggerated pulmonary hypertension is thought to play an important part in the pathogenesis of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Endothelin-1 is a potent pulmonary vasoconstrictor peptide that also augments microvascular permeability. METHODS AND RESULTS We measured endothelin-1 plasma levels and pulmonary artery pressure in 16 mountaineers prone to HAPE and in 16 mountaineers ...

More than 140 million people worldwide live >2500 m above sea level. Of them, 80 million live in Asia, and 35 million live in the Andean mountains. This latter region has its major population density living above 3500 m. The primary objective of the present study is to review the physiology, pathology, pathogenesis, and clinical features of the heart and pulmonary circulation in healthy highlan...

pects of high-altitude pulmonary edema. J Appl Physiol 2005; 98: 1101–1110. 8 Dehnert C, Risse F, Ley S, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of uneven pulmonary perfusion in hypoxia in humans. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006; 174: 1132–1138. 9 Naeije R, De Backer D, Vachiéry JL, et al. High-altitude pulmonary edema with primary pulmonary hypertension. Chest 1996; 110: 286–289. 10 Galié N, Hoeper M...

Cardiac catheterization was performed on seven children after recovery from highaltitude pulmonary edema. All were life-long residents at elevations above 10,000 feet. Three of the seven had developed pulmonary edema without antecedent travel to low altitude but had an upper respiratory infection. Response of pulmonary arterial pressure to 16% inspired oxygen in all seven was compared with that...

OBJECTIVE It has been reported that dehydroepiandrosterone is a pulmonary vasodilator and inhibits chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Additionally, dehydroepiandrosterone has been shown to improve systemic vascular endothelial function. Thus, we hypothesized that chronic treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone would attenuate hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by enhancing pulmonary arte...

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...

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effect of captopril on both systemic (P.a) and pulmonary arterial pressures (PPA) in patients with high-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH). Seventeen patients (mean age 44±6.8 years) with HAPH and mild to moderate systemic arterial hypertension were included in the study. All patients underwent right heart catheterization with measurem...