Altitude sickness is caused by the reduced partial pressure of oxygen at high el

Question

Altitude sickness is caused by the reduced partial pressure of oxygen at high elevation. This leads to decreased levels of oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia) and stimulates hyperventilation. Hyperventilation may lead to alkalosis and the symptoms of mountain sickness – fatigue, nausea, headache and a rapid and forceful heartbeat. An inhibitor of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase known as acetazolamide is taken by many people to prevent these symptoms. How does acetazolamide work to offset hypoxemia and its related conditions.

Explanation / Answer

Acetazolamide is the prototypic inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of carbonic acid from water and carbon dioxide. It was introduced as a diuretic initially in 1953, acetazolamide has limited efficacy in this regard since, with repeated use it induces a metabolic acidosis that counteracts the diuretic effect Jackson (1996). The effect of acetazolamide is multifactorial by acting on erythropoiesis, pulmonary circulation, haemorheological properties and cardiac output, and could represent a pertinent treatment of chronic mountain sickness. With the introduction of the thiazide and loop diuretics, acetazolamideis now seldom prescribed for this purpose. Acetazolamide also displays some activity, but limited efficacy as an antiepileptic in certain seizure disorders. Currently, acetazolamide is indicated primarily for the treatment of glaucoma and for the prevention or treatment for acute mountain sickness.

I got this very interesting article on it : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2151360/

Do read and keep studying.

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