Symptoms and Signs
Classical Signs
The classical signs of developing high altitude pulmonary edema are:
High altitude pulmonary hypertension without polycythemia
High altitude pulmonary edema:
Congestive heart failure of high altitude:
High altitude pulmonary hypertension with polycythemia
Chronic mountain sickness of long-term high-altitude residents (Monge’s Disease):
The classical signs of developing high altitude pulmonary edema are:
- Severe fatigue and lassitude, fever
- Cyanosis, cough, orthopnea and tachypnea at rest
- Chest tightness, tachycardia
- Pulmonary rales
High altitude pulmonary hypertension without polycythemia
High altitude pulmonary edema:
- Rapid ascent to high altitude (> 300 m/day)
- Dyspnea on minimal exertion, orthopnea, cough, tachycardia and hypoxemia within a few days after ascent to high altitude
- Patchy pulmonary infiltrates on the chest-x-ray, which resolve within 3 to 5 days after descent to low altitude.
Congestive heart failure of high altitude:
- Development of dyspnea, peripheral edema, distended jugular veins and hepatomegaly within 2-3 month after ascent to high altitude
- Right ventricular distension and hypertrophy, markedly increased pulmonary vessel media thickness
High altitude pulmonary hypertension with polycythemia
Chronic mountain sickness of long-term high-altitude residents (Monge’s Disease):
- Develops after several months or years at altitudes above 3000 m
- Progressive weakness, fatigue, dyspnea and impairment of the intellect and higher mental functions
- Cyanosis of lips, nose, ears, fingers and cheeks, finger clubbing (rare)
- Congestive right heart failure (rare)
Druckversion
Suche
5th International Congress of the Swiss Society of Pulmonary Hypertension (SSPH)
28.-29. September 2012, Thun, Congress Hotel Seepark Thun
Informationen: www.imk.ch/sgph2012
SSPH Research Prize 2012
Deadline for submission: April 30, 2012
Further information
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