The Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude Diseases

Abstract

Letters5 April 2005The Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude DiseasesBuddha Basnyat, MDBuddha Basnyat, MDFrom Nepal International Clinic, Kathmandu, Nepal.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-142-7-200504050-00021 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:I read West's review on the physiologic basis of high-altitude diseases (1) with interest. A large recent trial in the Nepalese Himalayas involving 614 western trekkers convincingly showed that Ginkgo biloba was not effective in the prevention of acute mountain sickness (2). Perhaps this study should have been included in West's review. Although this field study did have some limitations, it revealed that gingko caused significantly increased headache when combined with acetazolamide compared with acetazolamide alone.Buddha Basnyat, MDNepal International Clinic; Kathmandu, Nepal