Magnetic Resonance investigation into the mechanisms involved in the development of high-altitude cerebral edema

Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 37.1 (January 2017): 319-331.

Rapid ascent to high altitude commonly results in acute mountain sickness, and on occasion potentially fatal high-altitude cerebral edema. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms behind these syndromes remain to be determined. We report a study in which 12 subjects were exposed to a FiO2 = 0.12 for 22 h and underwent serial magnetic resonance imaging sequences to enable measurement of middle cerebral artery velocity, flow and diameter, and brain parenchymal, cerebrospinal fluid and cerebral venous volumes.

UHCW Research: Sagoo, Ravjit S; Hutchinson, Charles E; Nagaraja, Sanjoy; Sherwood, Victoria; Wayte, Sarah; and  Ng'Andwe, Eddie

Lessons from altitude: cerebral perfusion insights and their potential translational clinical significance

Experimental Physiology. 101 (9) (pp 1167-1172), 2016. Date of Publication: 01 Sep 2016.

The long-held assumption that transcranial Doppler middle cerebral artery velocity is a surrogate for cerebral blood flow has been questioned in certain circumstances, particularly where tissue oxygenation changes.

This report provides new perspectives and potential mechanisms to account for the maintenance of cerebral oxygen delivery at high and extreme altitude. In particular, the long-held assumption that transcranial Doppler middle cerebral artery velocity is a surrogate for cerebral blood flow has been shown to be incorrect in certain circumstances

UHCW Research: Imray, C.