Retinal vessel leakage at high altitude

摘要

Correlations were tested using the Fisher exact test and differences between SpO levels were analyzed using an independent, 2-sided t test at a significance level of P< .05; JMP version 8.0.2 statistical software was used (SAS Institute Inc). The study was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Tubingen; all participants gave written informed consent. Results. Retinal abnormalities were not noted at baseline in any of the participants. At high altitude, marked bilateral leakage of peripheral retinal vessels was observed in 7 of 14 participants (50%; Figure 1). Leakage uniformly occurred in the following distinct pattern: always present in the temporal-inferior and absent in the nasal-superior periphery (Figure 2), favoring venules more than arterioles. Staining of the optic disc was detected in 57% (8/14); no leakage was found in the central retina (Figure 2).All findings completely reversed after descent (Figure 1). Incidence of AMS at high altitude was 50% (7/14).