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Severe acute mountain sickness and suspect high altitude cerebral edema related to nitroglycerin use.

Author(s): Mazzuero G, Mazzuero A, Pascariello A

Affiliation(s): Divisione Cardiologia, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, IRCCS, Veruno (NO), Italy. giorgio.mazzuero@fsm.it

Publication date & source: 2008-09, High Alt Med Biol., 9(3):241-3.

Publication type: Case Reports

An elite mountaineer reported severe acute mountain sickness and ataxia during an 8000-m expedition and concomitant use of transdermal nitroglycerin patches aimed to prevent frostbites. Use of nitroglycerin for this purpose is off-label, and its safety has not been assessed. Moreover, a relation between nitrate-induced cerebral vasodilation and high altitude cerebral edema is theoretically possible on a pathophysiological basis. It is our opinion that nitroglycerin use at high altitude should be discouraged, as efficacy in the prevention of frostbites is questionable and safety has not been assessed.

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