Alveolar flooding at high altitude: failure of reabsorption?

Abstract

Na-driven fluid reabsorption prevents alveolar fluid accumulation. Hypoxia augments fluid filtration by hemodynamic effects and inhibits Na reabsorption in cultured cells. A combination of both effects in vivo causes alveolar flooding, edema, thickening of the diffusion barrier for oxygen, and hypoxemia, a life-threatening situation for mountaineers in remote high-altitude mountain ranges.