Characteristics of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema in Naqu at the Altitude of 4500 m.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to review records from 429 patients with high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) to identify some of the salient characteristics associated with this condition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: General information and clinical symptoms, along with laboratory test results from HAPE patients were collected and analyzed. Blood assay results and imaging at admission were compared with those at discharge. Results from routine blood assays were compared among three subgroups of these patients that were generated based upon the duration of their hypoxia exposure.

RESULTS: Of these 429 HAPE patients, 9.32% also showed high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). White blood cell and neutrophil counts, as well as levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, uric acid, lactic dehydrogenase and creatine kinase were all increased in HAPE patients, with further increases observed in those with HAPE combined with HACE. Levels of white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and hemoglobin concentrations in HAPE patients at admission were significantly higher than that obtained at discharge. White blood cell and neutrophil counts were lower in patients who developed HAPE after a duration of 7 days of high altitude exposure as compared with those who developed the condition within 1 or 3 days.

CONCLUSIONS: A combination of HAPE and HACE was present in 9.32% of the patients with HAPE. HAPE was more prevalent in males. Hepatocytes and the myocardium were likely sites of damage in patients with HAPE, with more severe damage observed in the patients with HAPE/HACE. White blood cell and neutrophil counts were significantly higher than normal ranges and these levels were negatively correlated with the duration of hypoxia exposure.