Evaluation and Management of the Individual with Recurrent High Altitude Pulmonary Edema

Luks AM, Grissom CK. Evaluation and Management of the Individual with Recurrent HAPE. High Alt Med Biol. 25:238-246, 2024. Individuals with a history of acute altitude illness often seek recommendations from medical providers on how to prevent such problems on future ascents to high elevation. Although many of these cases can be managed with pharmacologic prophylaxis and counseling about the appropriate rate of ascent alone, there are some situations in which further diagnostic evaluation may also be warranted. One such situation is the individual with recurrent episodes of high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), as one of several predisposing factors may be present that warrants additional interventions beyond pharmacologic prophylaxis and slow ascent and may even preclude future travel to high altitude. This review considers this situation in greater detail. Structured around the case of an otherwise healthy 27-year-old individual with recurrent episodes of HAPE who would like to climb Denali (6,190 m), the review examines the known risk factors for disease and then provides guidance regarding when and how to evaluate such individuals and appropriate steps to prevent HAPE on further ascents to high elevation. Except in rare circumstances, a history of recurrent HAPE does not preclude further ascent to high elevation, as a multipronged approach including pharmacologic prophylaxis, careful planning about the rate of ascent, and the degree of physical effort and other strategies, such as preacclimatization, staged ascent, and use of hypoxic tents, can be employed to reduce the risk of recurrence with future travel.