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Wilson and colleagues summarize the clinical features of altitude illness, neuropsychological effects of hypobaric hypoxia, evidence for genetic predisposition to altitude illness, and current theories on its pathogenesis.
Sudden ascent to altitudes above 2500 meters in unacclimatized individuals triggers a series of physiologic responses to maintain cerebral oxygen delivery. Neurological sequelae of these physiologic changes range from benign high-altitude headache and acute mountain sickness (AMS) to more-serious and life-threatening maladaptive responses such as high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). AMS is common, whereas only 0.5% to 1.0% of trekkers to altitudes of 4500 meters or higher develop HA…