Arias-Stella developed a classification for chronic mountain sickness (CMS) based on the description of Monge for a disorder in residents of the Andes in Peru.
Type
Suggested Term
Functional Group
I
chronic soroche
low altitude resident who has failed to adapt to high altitude
II
Monge's syndrome
secondary hypoventilation syndrome in person adapted to high altitude
III
Monge's disease
primary hypoventilation syndrome in person adapted to high altitude
Secondary causes of hypoventilation:
(1) obesity
(2) kyphoscoliosis
(3) neuromuscular disorder affecting the thoracic cage
(4) chronic cardiovascular disease
(5) chronic pulmonary disease
Criteria for Type III chronic mountain sickness:
(1) absence of a secondary cause for hypoventilation
(2) diminished respiratory response to hypoxemia and carbon dioxide
(3) polycythemia (according to Thomas et al, hemoglobin usually > 21.3 g/dL)
(4) cyanosis
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