Effects of acetazolamide on pulmonary artery pressure and prevention of high-altitude pulmonary edema after rapid active ascent to 4,559 m
Marc Moritz Berger, Mahdi Sareban, Lisa Maria Schiefer, Kai E. Swenson, Franziska Treff, Larissa Schäfer, Peter Schmidt, Magdalena Schimke, Michael Paar, Josef Niebauer, Annalisa Cogo, Susi Kriemler, Stefan Schwery, Philipp A. Pickerodt, Benjamin Mayer, Peter Bärtsch, Erik R. Swenson
Abstract
This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study is the first to investigate whether acetazolamide, which reduces acute mountain sickness (AMS), inhibits short-term hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and also prevents high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) in a fast-climbing ascent to 4,559 m. We found no statistically significant reduction in HAPE incidence or differences in hypoxic pulmonary artery pressures compared with placebo despite reductions in AMS and greater ventilation-induced arterial oxygenation. Our data do not support recommending acetazolamide for HAPE prevention.