High altitude polycythemia and its maladaptive mechanisms: an updated review

Shijie Tang; Shijie Tang; Shijie Tang; Wenwen Zhou; Wenwen Zhou; Ling Chen; Ling Chen; Hui Yan; Hui Yan; Lei Chen; Lei Chen; Lei Chen; Fengming Luo; Fengming Luo; Fengming Luo

doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1448654

Frontiers in Medicine (Aug 2024)

High altitude polycythemia and its maladaptive mechanisms: an updated review

Shijie Tang,
Shijie Tang,
Shijie Tang,
Wenwen Zhou,
Wenwen Zhou,
Ling Chen,
Ling Chen,
Hui Yan,
Hui Yan,
Lei Chen,
Lei Chen,
Lei Chen,
Fengming Luo,
Fengming Luo,
Fengming Luo

Affiliations

Shijie Tang: Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Shijie Tang: High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Shijie Tang: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Wenwen Zhou: Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Wenwen Zhou: High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Ling Chen: Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Ling Chen: High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Hui Yan: Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Hui Yan: High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Lei Chen: Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Lei Chen: High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Lei Chen: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Fengming Luo: Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Fengming Luo: High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Fengming Luo: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1448654
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11

Abstract

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High altitude polycythemia is a maladaptation of highlanders exposed to hypoxic environment, leading to high blood viscosity and severe cardiorespiratory dysfunction. Prolonged hypoxia causes respiratory depression and severe hypoxemia, and further mediates changes in genetic and molecular mechanisms that regulate erythropoiesis and apoptosis, ultimately resulting in excessive erythrocytosis (EE). This updated review investigated the maladaptive mechanisms of EE, including respiratory chemoreceptor passivation, sleep-related breathing disorders, sex hormones, iron metabolism, and hypoxia-related factors and pathways.

Published in Frontiers in Medicine

ISSN: 2296-858X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General)
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine

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