Abstract
IN 1928, Monge1,2 described the occurrence in the Peruvian high-altitude areas of a disease characterized by an excessive polycythaemia (greater than usual erythro-poietic response to the degree of existing hypoxia) and congestive symptoms, both relieved on descent to lower altitudes. This disease, which may develop after years of residence at high levels or in natives born and living in highlands, has been called chronic mountain sickness or Monge's disease3,5. The present report describes the effects of blood-letting on the oxygen saturation, CO2 pressure and pH. in the arterial blood of patients with chronic mountain sickness living in Cerro de Pasco, Perú, at an altitude of 4,300 metres above sea-level.
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CARLOS MONGE, C., LOZANO, R. & WHITTEMBURY, J. Effect of Blood-letting on Chronic Mountain Sickness. Nature 207, 770 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/207770a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/207770a0
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