Asthma Drug Eases Altitude Wheezes

A drug commonly prescribed for asthmatics significantly reduces the risk of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema according to a study conducted by Swiss scientists.

The scientists conducted tests at a high altitude laboratory - 4559 metres - on a sample of climbers with a previous history of HAPE and found that of 37 subjects tested, 14 of the 19 given a placebo inhalant showed clinical signs of HAPE. in contrast only six out of the 18 given salmeterol, the anti-asthma drug developed symptoms.

Their conclusions were that the drug decreases the risk of developing HAPE by 50 per-cent in susceptible subjects.

HAPE is a dangerous consequence of insufficient acclimatisation, where the lungs fill with fluid and climbers literally begin to drown. It has killed numerous mountaineers over the years and is a major problem usually associated with gaining altitude too quickly, so the body has insufficient time to acclimatise.

According to a summary of the findings on the Outside Online web site, the scientists involved suggest that the drug only be used for climbers who have a previous history of HAPE, however the magazine quotes Dr. Peter Hackett, President of the International Society of Mountain Medicine, as saying that he 'wouldn't be surprised if people begin taking a squirt of salmeterol for their lungs before summitting, just in case.'

Article at Outside Online

Study summary from New England Journal of Medicine

International Society for Mountain Medecine web site