
Long‐term chronic intermittent hypoxia: a particular form of chronic high‐altitude pulmonary hypertension
Author(s) -
Brito Julio,
Siques Patricia,
Pena Eduardo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
pulmonary circulation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.791
H-Index - 40
ISSN - 2045-8940
DOI - 10.1177/2045894020934625
Subject(s) - medicine , pulmonary hypertension , hypoxia (environmental) , effects of high altitude on humans , chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension , cardiology , term (time) , intensive care medicine , oxygen , chemistry , organic chemistry , anatomy , physics , quantum mechanics
In some subjects, high‐altitude hypobaric hypoxia leads to high‐altitude pulmonary hypertension. The threshold for the diagnosis of high‐altitude pulmonary hypertension is a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 30 mmHg, even though for general pulmonary hypertension is ≥25 mmHg. High‐altitude pulmonary hypertension has been associated with high hematocrit findings (chronic mountain sickness), and although these are two separate entities, they have a synergistic effect that should be considered. In recent years, a new condition associated with high altitude was described in South America named long‐term chronic intermittent hypoxia and has appeared in individuals who commute to work at high altitude but live and rest at sea level. In this review, we discuss the initial epidemiological pattern from the early studies done in Chile, the clinical presentation and possible molecular mechanism and a discussion of the potential management of this condition.