A 38-year-old woman moves with her family from New York City (sea level) to Leadville Colorado (10,200 feet above sea level). Which of the following will occur as a result of residing at high altitude?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

[IX B; Table 4.9]. At high altitudes, the $\mathrm{PO}_{2}$ of alveolar air is decreased because barometric pressure is decreased. As a result, arterial $\mathrm{PO}_{2}$ is decreased ( $<100 \mathrm{~mm} \mathrm{Hg}$ ), and hypoxemia occurs and causes hyperventilation by an effect on peripheral chemoreceptors. Hyperventilation leads to respiratory alkalosis. 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate (DPG) levels increase adaptively; 2,3-DPG binds to hemoglobin and causes the hemoglobin$\mathrm{O}_{2}$ dissociation curve to shift to the right to improve unloading of $\mathrm{O}_{2}$ in the tissues. The
pulmonary vasculature vasoconstricts in response to alveolar hypoxia, resulting in increased pulmonary arterial pressure and hypertrophy of the right ventricle (not the left ventricle).

A 38-Year-Old Woman Moves with Her Family from New York PO2\mathrm{PO}_{2}PO2​

A 38-Year-Old Woman Moves with Her Family from New York $\mathrm{PO}_{2}$