Alveolar flooding at high altitude: failure of reabsorption?
Na-driven fluid reabsorption prevents alveolar fluid accumulation. Hypoxia augments fluid filtration by hemodynamic effects and inhibits Na reabsorption in cultured cells. A combination of both effects in vivo causes alveolar flooding, edema, thickening of the diffusion barrier for oxygen, and hypoxemia, a life-threatening situation for mountaineers in remote high-altitude mountain ranges.
Höschele
Sabine
S
Medical Clinic and Policlinic, Internal Medicine VII, Sports Medicine, University of Heidelberg, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany.
Mairbäurl
Heimo
H
D000042:Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000502:physiology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000503:physiopathology; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
D012964:Sodium