NEW EVIDENCE FROM MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF BRAIN CHANGES AFTER CLIMBS AT EXTREME ALTITUDE

The aim of the present study was to look for anatomical changes in cli mbers' brains, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), after extremely high-altitude climbs and to relate them to possible associated risk f actors. Clinical history, neurological examinations and MRI were carri ed out on a group of nine climbers before and after climbing to over 7 500 m without the use of supplementary oxygen. None of the subjects sh owed any neurological dysfunctions. In five climbers MRI abnormalities (high signal areas, cortical atrophy) were observed before the expedi tion. After the descent, two of them showed new high intensity signal areas recorded by MRI. Both subjects suffered severe neurological symp toms during the climb. The present study suggested that the brain chan ges observed by MRI could be related to the severity of clinical event s at high altitude. However, we do not know the exact meaning of such MRI findings or the reason for their location, predominantly in poster ior regions of the brain. The new evidence that a high percentage of c limbers show MRI brain abnormalities, and especially the appearance of changes after the ascent, reinforces the possibility of a potential n eurological risk in high-altitude climbing.