Biomaterial Database

High-altitude illness. 2003

Buddha Basnyat, and David R Murdoch

Nepal International Clinic, Kathmandu, Nepal; Himalayan Rescue Association, Kathmandu, Nepal. rishibas@wlink.com.np <rishibas@wlink.com.np>

High-altitude illness is the collective term for acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE). The pathophysiology of these syndromes is not completely understood, although studies have substantially contributed to the current understanding of several areas. These areas include the role and potential mechanisms of brain swelling in AMS and HACE, mechanisms accounting for exaggerated pulmonary hypertension in HAPE, and the role of inflammation and alveolar-fluid clearance in HAPE. Only limited information is available about the genetic basis of high-altitude illness, and no clear associations between gene polymorphisms and susceptibility have been discovered. Gradual ascent will always be the best strategy for preventing high-altitude illness, although chemoprophylaxis may be useful in some situations. Despite investigation of other agents, acetazolamide remains the preferred drug for preventing AMS. The next few years are likely to see many advances in the understanding of the causes and management of high-altitude illness.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008517	Phytotherapy	Use of plants or herbs to treat diseases or to alleviate pain.	Herb Therapy,Herbal Therapy
D011654	Pulmonary Edema	Excessive accumulation of extravascular fluid in the lung, an indication of a serious underlying disease or disorder. Pulmonary edema prevents efficient PULMONARY GAS EXCHANGE in the PULMONARY ALVEOLI, and can be life-threatening.	Wet Lung,Edema, Pulmonary,Edemas, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Edemas,Lung, Wet,Lungs, Wet,Wet Lungs
D001929	Brain Edema	Increased intracellular or extracellular fluid in brain tissue. Cytotoxic brain edema (swelling due to increased intracellular fluid) is indicative of a disturbance in cell metabolism, and is commonly associated with hypoxic or ischemic injuries (see HYPOXIA, BRAIN). An increase in extracellular fluid may be caused by increased brain capillary permeability (vasogenic edema), an osmotic gradient, local blockages in interstitial fluid pathways, or by obstruction of CSF flow (e.g., obstructive HYDROCEPHALUS). (From Childs Nerv Syst 1992 Sep; 8(6):301-6)	Brain Swelling,Cerebral Edema,Cytotoxic Brain Edema,Intracranial Edema,Vasogenic Cerebral Edema,Cerebral Edema, Cytotoxic,Cerebral Edema, Vasogenic,Cytotoxic Cerebral Edema,Vasogenic Brain Edema,Brain Edema, Cytotoxic,Brain Edema, Vasogenic,Brain Swellings,Cerebral Edemas, Vasogenic,Edema, Brain,Edema, Cerebral,Edema, Cytotoxic Brain,Edema, Cytotoxic Cerebral,Edema, Intracranial,Edema, Vasogenic Brain,Edema, Vasogenic Cerebral,Swelling, Brain
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000086	Acetazolamide	One of the CARBONIC ANHYDRASE INHIBITORS that is sometimes effective against absence seizures. It is sometimes useful also as an adjunct in the treatment of tonic-clonic, myoclonic, and atonic seizures, particularly in women whose seizures occur or are exacerbated at specific times in the menstrual cycle. However, its usefulness is transient often because of rapid development of tolerance. Its antiepileptic effect may be due to its inhibitory effect on brain carbonic anhydrase, which leads to an increased transneuronal chloride gradient, increased chloride current, and increased inhibition. (From Smith and Reynard, Textbook of Pharmacology, 1991, p337)	Acetadiazol,Acetazolam,Acetazolamide Sodium, (Sterile),Acetazolamide, Monosodium Salt,Ak-Zol,Apo-Acetazolamide,Diacarb,Diamox,Diuramide,Défiltran,Edemox,Glauconox,Glaupax,Huma-Zolamide,Ak Zol,AkZol,Apo Acetazolamide,ApoAcetazolamide,Huma Zolamide,HumaZolamide
D000532	Altitude Sickness	Multiple symptoms associated with reduced oxygen at high ALTITUDE.	Mountain Sickness,Altitude Hypoxia,Altitude Hypoxias,Hypoxia, Altitude,Sickness, Altitude,Sickness, Mountain
D012307	Risk Factors	An aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, environmental exposure, inborn or inherited characteristic, which, based on epidemiological evidence, is known to be associated with a health-related condition considered important to prevent.	Health Correlates,Risk Factor Scores,Risk Scores,Social Risk Factors,Population at Risk,Populations at Risk,Correlates, Health,Factor, Risk,Factor, Social Risk,Factors, Social Risk,Risk Factor,Risk Factor Score,Risk Factor, Social,Risk Factors, Social,Risk Score,Score, Risk,Score, Risk Factor,Social Risk Factor
D020441	Ginkgo biloba	The only specie of the genus Ginkgo, family Ginkgoacea. It is the source of extracts of medicinal interest, especially Egb 761. Ginkgo may refer to the genus or species.	Gingko,Gingko biloba,Ginkgo,Ginkgophyta,Maidenhair Tree,Ginko,Gingko bilobas,Gingkos,Ginkgo bilobas,Ginkgophytas,Ginkgos,Ginkos,Maidenhair Trees,Tree, Maidenhair,Trees, Maidenhair,bilobas, Gingko,bilobas, Ginkgo