High Altitude Pulmonary Hypertension

摘要

The effects of hypoxia on the human organism has been considered doubly fascinatingby the scientific community. The knowledge of the discrete mechanisms allowing the acclimatizationboth at genetic level or through the cell mediators production in addition to the macroscopicresponses of the cardio-circulatory and ventilatory systems to a hypoxic environment has been progressivelydeveloped since the last century; moreover granting a safer stay in hypoxic conditionsnot only for the residents but also for the different cathegories of workers, sportsmen and touristshas been considered a worthy aim of the medical activity. The effects of hypoxia were simulated inlaboratory by means of an induced low pressure environment (normobaric hypoxia) or tested on thesubjects at different levels of altitude (hypobaric hypoxia). Far from describing all the physiologicaland pathological responses of the organism, in this review, the authors expose the state of the art inthe knowledge of the responsiveness of the pulmonary circle to the acute or chronic hypoxic condition,its possible progression to the pulmonary arterial hypertension, the latter being more appropriatelynamed High-Altitude Pulmonary Hypertension. The currently available therapeutic options inthe treatment of High-Altitude Pulmonary Hypertension are also reviewed.