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Changes in plasma cortisol, blood antidiuretic hormone and urinary catecholamines in high—altitude pulmonary oedema

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Abstract

In 10 subjects susceptible to high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPO) plasma cortisol and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and urinary catecholamines were estimated both at sea level and daily during their stay at 3, 500 m (Leh). At high altitude 4 of the subjects developed HAPO, 2 got acute mountain sickness (AMS) and 4 remained unaffected. Plasma cortisol showed a sharp rise on the first day at high altitude in all the subjects. Thereafter, it declined gradually in the unaffected subjects. In the HAPO patients there was a sharp fall in the plasma cortisol level combined with antidiuresis. Changes in plasma ADH and urinary catecholamines were not consistent. It appears that failure in the normal adrenocortical response to altitude stress in susceptible subjects is a factor in precipitating HAPO.

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  1. Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, 110010, Delhi Cantt, India

    Inder Singh

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  1. Inder Singh
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  2. M. S. Malhotra
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  3. P. K. Khanna
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  4. R. B. Nanda
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  5. T. Purshottam
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  7. U. Radhakrishnan
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  8. H. D. Brahmachari
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Singh, I., Malhotra, M.S., Khanna, P.K. et al. Changes in plasma cortisol, blood antidiuretic hormone and urinary catecholamines in high—altitude pulmonary oedema. Int J Biometeorol 18, 211–221 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01453935

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01453935

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