Reappraisal of acetazolamide for the prevention of acute mountain sickness: A systematic review and meta-analysis

High Altitude Medicine and Biology

Volumn 13, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 82-92

  Kayser, Bengt ^a   Dumont, Lionel ^b   Lysakowski, Christopher ^b   Combescure, Christophe ^b   Haller, Guy ^b   Tramèr, Martin R ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA   (Switzerland)

^b GENEVA UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS   (Switzerland)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ACETAZOLAMIDE; PLACEBO;

ALTITUDE DISEASE; CLIMBING; DOSE RESPONSE; DRUG EFFICACY; HUMAN; META ANALYSIS; PARESTHESIA; POLYURIA; PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW; RISK ASSESSMENT; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW; TASTE DISORDER;

ACETAZOLAMIDE; ALTITUDE SICKNESS; CARBONIC ANHYDRASE INHIBITORS; HUMANS; PARESTHESIA; POLYURIA; TASTE DISORDERS;

EID: 84862897541     PISSN: 15270297     EISSN: 15578682     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1089/ham.2011.1084     Document Type: Review

References (49)

1. Bartsch P and Schneider M. (2001). Pharmacological prevention of acute mountain sickness. Same ascent rates must be used to assess effectiveness of different doses of acetazolamide. BMJ 322:48-49.
2. Basnyat B and Gertsch JH. (2003). Reply to the letter above. High Alt Med Biol 8:400.
3. Basnyat B, Gertsch JH, Holck PS, Johnson EW, Luks AM, Donham BP, et al. (2006). Acetazolamide 125mg BD is not significantly different from 375mg BD in the prevention of acute mountain sickness: The prophylactic acetazolamide dosage comparison for efficacy (PACE) trial. High Alt Med Biol 7:17-27.
4. Basnyat B, Gertsch JH, Johnson EW, Castro-Marin F, Inoue Y, and Yeh C. (2003). Efficacy of low-dose acetazolamide (125mg BID) for the prophylaxis of acute mountain sickness: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. High Alt Med Biol 4:45-52. (Pubitemid 36511798)
5. Basnyat B, Hargrove J, Holck PS, Srivastav S, Alekh K, Ghimire LV, et al. (2008). Acetazolamide fails to decrease pulmonary artery pressure at high altitude in partially acclimatized humans. High Alt Med Biol 9:209-216.
6. Basnyat B, Holck PS, Pun M, Halverson S, Szawarski P, Gertsch J, Steif M, Powell S, Khanal S, Joshi A, et al. (2011). Spironolactone does not prevent acute mountain sickness: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial by SPACE Trial Group (Spironolactone and Acetazolamide Trial in the Prevention of Acute Mountain Sickness Group). Wilderness Environ Med 22:15-22.
7. Bernhard WN, Schalick LM, Delaney PA, Bernhard TM, and Barnas GM. (1998). Acetazolamide plus low-dose dexamethasone is better than acetazolamide alone to ameliorate symptoms of acute mountain sickness. Aviat Space Environ Med 69:883-886.
8. Bradwell AR, Delamere JP, and Mackintosh JH. (1981). Acetazolamide in the mountains. Lancet 1:730. (Pubitemid 11154019)
9. Burki NK, Khan SA, and Hameed MA. (1992). The effects of acetazolamide on the ventilatory response to high altitude hypoxia. Chest 101:736-741.
10. Carlsten C, Swenson ER, and Ruoss S. (2004). A dose-response study of acetazolamide for acute mountain sickness prophylaxis in vacationing tourists at 12,000 feet (3630 m). High Alt Med Biol 5:33-39. (Pubitemid 38455803)
11. Chow T, Browne V, Heileson HL, Wallace D, Anholm J, and Green SM. (2005). Ginkgo biloba and acetazolamide prophylaxis for acute mountain sickness: A randomized, placebocontrolled trial. Arch Intern Med 165:296-301. (Pubitemid 40216282)
12. Dellasanta P, Gaillard S, Loutan L, and Kayser B. (2007). Comparing questionnaires for the assessment of acute mountain sickness. High Alt Med Biol 8:184-191. (Pubitemid 47403501)
13. Dumont L, Lysakowski C, Tramèr MR, and Kayser B. (2005). Controversies in altitude medicine. Travel Med Infect Dis 3:183-188. (Pubitemid 41258636)
14. Dumont L, Mardirosoff C, and Tramèr MR. (2000). Efficacy and harm of pharmacological prevention of acute mountain sickness: Quantitative systematic review. BMJ 321:267-272. (Pubitemid 30487464)
15. Ellsworth AJ, Larson EB, and Strickland D. (1987). A randomized trial of dexamethasone and acetazolamide for acute mountain sickness prophylaxis. Am J Med 83:1024-1030. (Pubitemid 18098873)
16. Ellsworth AJ, Meyer EF, and Larson EB. (1991). Acetazolamide or dexamethasone use versus placebo to prevent acute mountain sickness on Mount Rainier. West J Med 154:289-293.
17. Epstein DL and Grant WM. (1977). Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor side effects. Serum chemical analysis. Arch Ophthalmol 95:1378-1382. (Pubitemid 8142301)
18. Fischer R, Lang SM, Leitl M, Thiere M, Steiner U, and Huber RM. (2004). Theophylline and acetazolamide reduce sleepdisordered breathing at high altitude. Eur Respir J 23:47-52. (Pubitemid 38088495)
19. Fisher JA. (1998). Prophylaxis for acute mountain sickness. Hosp Pract (Minneap) 33:23.
20. Gaillard S, Dellasanta P, Loutan L, and Kayser B. (2004). Awareness, prevalence, medication use, and risk factors of acute mountain sickness in tourists trekking around the Annapurnas in Nepal: A 12-year follow-up. High Alt Med Biol 5:410-419. (Pubitemid 40309549)
21. Gertsch JH, Basnyat B, Johnson EW, Onopa J, and Holck PS. (2004). Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled comparison of ginkgo biloba and acetazolamide for prevention of acute mountain sickness among Himalayan trekkers: The prevention of high altitude illness trial (PHAIT). BMJ 328:797.
22. Gertsch JH, Lipman GS, Holck PS, Merritt A, Mulcahy A, Fisher RS, Basnyat B, Allison E, Hanzelka K, Hazan A, et al. (2010). Prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled comparison of acetazolamide versus ibuprofen for prophylaxis against high altitude headache: The Headache Evaluation at Altitude Trial (HEAT). Wilderness Environ Med 21:236-243.
23. Greene MK, Kerr AM, McIntosh IB, and Prescott RJ. (1981). Acetazolamide in prevention of acute mountain sickness: A double-blind controlled cross-over study. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 283:811-813. (Pubitemid 11000266)
24. Hackett PH, Rennie D, and Levine HD. (1976). The incidence, importance, and prophylaxis of acute mountain sickness. Lancet 2:1149-1155.
25. Hackett PH and Roach RC. (2001). High-altitude illness. N Engl J Med 345:107-114. (Pubitemid 32634570)
26. Hackett PH and Roach RC. (2004). High altitude cerebral edema. High Alt Med Biol 5:136-146. (Pubitemid 39069615)
27. Hillenbrand P, Pahari AK, Soon Y, Subedi D, Bajracharya R, Gurung P, et al. (2006). Prevention of acute mountain sickness by acetazolamide in Nepali porters: A double-blind controlled trial. Wilderness Environ Med 17:87-93. (Pubitemid 43902276)
28. Hoag C, Berkman J, Dabrowski AR, Robinson V, and Basnyat B. (2003). The efficacy of low-dose acetazolamide for acute mountain sickness prophylaxis. Wilderness Environ Med 14:201.
29. Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D, Jenkinson C, Reynolds DJ, Gavaghan DJ, and McQuay HJ. (1996). Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: Is blinding necessary? Control Clin Trials 17:1-12. (Pubitemid 26120810)
30. Kayser B. (1991). Acute mountain sickness in western tourists around the Thorong Pass (5400 m) in Nepal. J Wilderness Med 2:110-117.
31. Kayser B, Hulsebosch R, and Bosch F. (2008). Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid analog and acetazolamide for prevention of acute mountain sickness. High Alt Med Biol 9:15-23. (Pubitemid 351363932)
32. Kelly TE and Hackett PH. (2010). Acetazolamide and sulfonamide allergy: A not so simple story. High Alt Med Biol 11:319-323.
33. Kilner T and Mukerji S. (2010). Acute mountain sickness prophylaxis: Knowledge, attitudes, & behaviours in the Everest region of Nepal. Travel Med Infect Dis 8:395-400.
34. Kronenberg RS and Cain SM. (1967). Effects of acetazolamide on physiologic and subjective responses of men to 14,000 feet. SAM-TR-67-81. Tech Rep SAM-TR,1-10.
35. Larson EB, Roach RC, Schoene RB, and Hornbein TF. (1982). Acute mountain sickness and acetazolamide. Clinical efficacy and effect on ventilation. JAMA 248:328-332. (Pubitemid 12070767)
36. Lee AG, Anderson R, Kardon RH, and Wall M. (2004). Presumed "sulfa allergy" in patients with intracranial hypertension treated with acetazolamide or furosemide: Cross-reactivity, myth or reality? Am J Ophthalmol 138:114-118. (Pubitemid 38850256)
37. Luks AM, McIntosh SE, Grissom CK, Auerbach PS, Rodway GW, Schoene RB, Zafren K, and Hackett PH. (2010). Wilderness Medical Society consensus guidelines for the prevention and treatment of acute altitude illness. Wilderness Environ Med 21:146-155.
38. Luks AM and Swenson ER. (2008). Medication and dosage considerations in the prophylaxis and treatment of high-altitude illness. Chest 133:744-755. (Pubitemid 351367385)
39. Maggiorini M, Muller A, Hofstetter D, Bartsch P, and Oelz O. (1998). Assessment of acute mountain sickness by different score protocols in the Swiss Alps. Aviat Space Environ Med 69:1186-1192. (Pubitemid 28544217)
40. Moraga FA, Flores A, Serra J, Esnaola C, and Barriento C. (2007). Ginkgo biloba decreases acute mountain sickness in people ascending to high altitude at Ollague (3696 m) in northern Chile. Wilderness Environ Med 18:251-257.
41. Nicholson AN, Smith PA, Stone BM, Bradwell AR, and Coote JH. (1988). Altitude insomnia: Studies during an expedition to the Himalayas. Sleep 11:354-361.
42. Reinhart WH, Goerre S, and Barstch P. (1994). Acetazolamide reduces the erythropoietin response to hypoxia at high altitude in humans. J Wilderness Medicine 5:312-317. (Pubitemid 24320364)
43. Ritschel WA, Paulos C, Arancibia A, Agrawal MA, Wetzelsberger KM, and Lucker PW. (1998). Pharmacokinetics of acetazolamide in healthy volunteers after shortand long-term exposure to high altitude. J Clin Pharmacol 38:533-539. (Pubitemid 28285228)
44. Roach R and Kayser B. (2007). Measuring mountain maladies. High Alt Med Biol 8:171-172. (Pubitemid 47403500)
45. Seupaul RA, Welch JL, Malka ST, and Emmett TW. (2011) Pharmacologic prophylaxis for acute mountain sickness: A systematic shortcut review. Ann Emerg Med 59:307-317.
46. Tissot van Patot MC, Leadbetter G, Keyes LE, Maakestad KM, Olson S, and Hackett PH. (2008). Prophylactic low-dose acetazolamide reduces the incidence and severity of acute mountain sickness. High Alt Med Biol 9:289-293.
47. Utz G, Schlierf G, Barth P, Linhart P, and Wollenweber J. (1970). [Prevention of acute mountain sickness using acetazolamide]. Munch Med Wochenschr 112:1122-1124.
48. Wu TY, Ding SQ, Liu JL, Yu MT, Jia JH, Duan JQ, Chai ZC, Dai RC, Zhang SL, Liang BZ, et al. (2009). Reduced incidence and severity of acute mountain sickness in Qinghai-Tibet railroad construction workers after repeated 7-month exposures despite 5-month low altitude periods. High Alt Med Biol 10:221-232.
49. Zell SC and Goodman PH. (1988). Acetazolamide and dexamethasone in the prevention of acute mountain sickness. West J Med 148:541-545.