Pathophysiology of acute mountain sickness and high altitude pulmonary oedema: an hypothesis.
We review the evidence that acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPO) occur together more often than is realized. We hypothesize that AMS and HAPO have a common pathophysiological basis: both are due to increased pressure and flow in the microcirculation, causing oedema in the brain and oedema in the lungs.
D000531:Altitude; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply; D008833:Microcirculation; D011312:Pressure; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014661:Vasoconstriction; D014664:Vasodilation