Excessive Erythrocytosis and Cardiovascular Risk in Andean Highlanders

Abstract Corante, Noemi, Cecilia Anza-Ramirez, Romulo Figueroa-Mujica, Jose Luis Macarlupu, Gustavo Vizcardo-Galindo, Grzegorz Bilo, Gianfranco Parati, Jorge L. Gamboa, Fabiola Leon-Velarde, and Francisco C. Villafuerte. Excessive erythrocytosis and cardiovascular risk in Andean highlanders. High Alt Med Biol. 19:221–231, 2018.—Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death worldwide. Life under high-altitude (HA) hypoxic conditions is believed to provide highlanders with a natural protection against cardiovascular and metabolic diseases compared with sea-level inhabitants. However, some HA dwellers become intolerant to chronic hypoxia and develop a progressive incapacitating syndrome known as chronic mountain sickness (CMS), characterized by excessive erythrocytosis (EE; Hb ≥21 g/dL in men, Hb ≥19 g/dL in women). Evidence from HA studies suggests that, in addition to CMS typical signs and symptoms, these highlanders may also suffer from metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Thus, we hypothesize th...