Altitude sickness pathophysiology
Overview
Pathophysiology
Sherpas are well-known for their physical strength at high altitudes. They adapt to high altitude so well that little acute or chronic mountain sickness has been documented in them. The overrepresented I allele of the ACE gene in Sherpas might be one of the fundamental genetic factors responsible for maintaining physiological low-altitude ACE activity at high altitude, which may have an advantageous physiological role in adapting to a high-altitude environment [1]
References
- ↑ Droma Y, Hanaoka M, Basnyat B, Arjyal A, Neupane P, Pandit A; et al. (2008). "Adaptation to high altitude in Sherpas: association with the insertion/deletion polymorphism in the Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene". Wilderness Environ Med. 19 (1): 22–9. doi:10.1580/06-WEME-OR-073.1. PMID 18333655.