The Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude Diseases

Abstract

Letters5 April 2005The Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude DiseasesJohn B. West, MD, PhDJohn B. West, MD, PhDFrom University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0623.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-142-7-200504050-00024 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:All 3 letters make useful points.In my article, I inserted the statement “Gingko biloba has been suggested as a useful prophylactic agent but has not been sufficiently studied” because there are several conflicting published reports, as noted by Gertsch and colleagues (1). However, I agree with Basnyat that their randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is strong evidence against the value of gingko for the prevention of acute mountain sickness.I also agree with Pandit that there is compelling evidence that alveolar fluid clearance in pulmonary edema is assisted by the sodium–potassium ATPase pump, and this might well have ...References1. 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 Scholar2. Sartori C, Allemann Y, Duplain H, Lepori M, Egli M, Lipp E, et al. Salmeterol for the prevention of high-altitude pulmonary edema. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:1631-6. [PMID: 12023995] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Basnyat B, Wu T, Gertsch JH. Neurological conditions at altitude that fall outside the usual definition of altitude sickness. High Alt Med Biol. 2004;5:171-9. [PMID: 15265338] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Kaner RJ, Crystal RG. Pathogenesis of high altitude pulmonary edema: does alveolar epithelial lining fluid vascular endothelial growth factor exacerbate capillary leak? High Alt Med Biol. 2004;5:399-409. [PMID: 15671629] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0623. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe 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 The Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude Diseases Matiram Pun Metrics 5 April 2005Volume 142, Issue 7Page: 592KeywordsAdenosine triphosphataseAltitude sicknessCapillariesCranial nervesEdemaGeneticsInhalationPathogenesis ePublished: 5 April 2005 Issue Published: 5 April 2005 CopyrightCopyright © 2005 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...