OBJECTIVETo explore the possible pathophysiological process and mechanisms underlying the development and formation of high altitude pulmonary edema(HAPE) by observing the changes in contents of VEGF, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and NO in serum from the initiated and recovery of HAPE patients.

METHODSWe studied 10 HAPE patients in a Chinese population. The patients were divided into two groups including HAPE initiate group and the recovery group. Contents of VEGF, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and NO in serum of the two groups were determined to study the process of HAPE.

RESULTSVEGF levels in the HAPE initiate one and the recovery groups were (167.9 +/- 26.5 and 53.1 +/- 17.0 pg/ ml), respectively. There was a significant decrease of VEGF content in recovery one compared to the HAPE group. The same results for TNF-alpha were gained. The levels of TNF-alpha in recovery group was much lower than that in the HAPE initiate one. They were (29.2 +/- 6.8) pg/ml and (86.2 +/- 24.1) pg/ml, respectively. The contents of IL-6 in HAPE initiate group and the recovery group were (32.3 +/- 16.5) pg/ml and (12. 5 +/- 8.0) pg/ml, respectively. But no significance existed. The level of NO in HAPE initiate group was (33.8 +/- 3.3) micromol/L, and it remarkably increased to (74.1 +/- 6.2) micromol/L in recovery one.

CONCLUSIONVEGF, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and NO participated in the different aspects of the pathophysiological process and might have influence on HAPE.