High incidence of optic disc swelling at very high altitudes

Bosch, Martina M; Barthelmes, Daniel; Merz, Tobias M; Bloch, Konrad E; Turk, Alexander J; Hefti, Urs; Sutter, Florian K P; Maggiorini, Marco; Wirth, Maria G; Schoch, Otto D; Landau, Klara (2008). High incidence of optic disc swelling at very high altitudes. Archives of ophthalmology, 126(5), pp. 644-50. Chicago, Ill.: American Medical Association 10.1001/archopht.126.5.644

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OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of optic disc swelling as a possible indicator of cerebral edema in a large group of healthy mountaineers exposed to very high altitudes and to correlate these findings with various clinical and environmental factors and occurrence of acute mountain sickness and high-altitude cerebral edema. METHODS: This multidisciplinary, prospective, observational cohort study was performed in 2005 within the scope of a medical research expedition to Muztagh Ata (7546 m [24,751 ft]) in Western Xinjiang Province, China. Twenty-seven healthy mountaineers aged 26 to 62 years participated. Medical examinations were performed in Switzerland 1 month before and 4 1/2 months after the expedition. Ophthalmologic examinations were performed at 4 high camps (maximum elevation, 6865 m [22,517 ft]). Optic disc status was documented using digital photography. Further assessments included arterial oxygen saturation and cerebral acute mountain sickness scores. RESULTS: Sixteen of 27 study subjects (59%) exhibited optic disc swelling during their stay at high altitudes, with complete regression on return to lowlands. Significant correlation was noted between optic disc swelling and lower arterial oxygen saturation (odds ratio, 0.86 per percentage of arterial oxygen saturation; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-0.92; P < .001), younger age (odds ratio, 0.95 per year; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-0.99; P = .03), and higher cerebral acute mountain sickness scores (odds ratio, 2.32 per 0.1 point; 95% confidence interval, 1.48-3.63; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Optic disc swelling occurs frequently in high-altitude climbers and is correlated with peripheral oxygen saturation and symptoms of acute mountain sickness. It is most likely the result of hypoxia-induced brain volume increase.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Anaesthesiology (DINA) > Clinic of Intensive Care
UniBE Contributor:	Barthelmes, Daniel, Merz, Tobias
ISSN:	0003-9950
ISBN:	18474774
Publisher:	American Medical Association
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:04
Last Modified:	02 Mar 2023 23:22
Publisher DOI:	10.1001/archopht.126.5.644
PubMed ID:	18474774
Web of Science ID:	000255780700006
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/27835 (FactScience: 112385)