Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

A Model to Simulate Clinically Relevant Hypoxia in Humans
Published on: December 22, 2016
Central Sleep Apnea at High Altitude: From Pathophysiology to Treatment
Elisa Perger1, Sébastien Baillieul2
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy; Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Sleep Disorders Center, Milan, Italy.
Abstract:
At elevations above roughly 2500 m, susceptible individuals manifest central sleep apnea due to high-altitude periodic breathing (high-altitude central sleep apnea [HA-CSA]) characterized by a typical periodic breathing pattern. Mechanistically, HA-CSA develops when sleep-related decreases in respiratory drive, triggered by hypocapnia, resulting from hypoxia-induced hyperventilation, interact with increased loop gain during non-rapid eye movement sleep. Clinically, severity is mitigated by descent or supplemental oxygen. Pharmacologic strategies such as acetazolamide are effective, and sleep quality may improve with judicious hypnotic use independent of CSA severity. This article integrates the description of HA-CSA mechanisms, clinical expression, ethnic and chronic-exposure perspectives, and management strategies.
Related Concept Videos
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue, improving...
Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation
Factors Affecting Respiration
Physiological Control of Respiration
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis
There are various classifications for PH, each relating to different underlying causes and also...