Chronic mountain sickness or Monge disease, 100 years after its first description at the National Academy of Medicine of Peru

Gonzales G.F. · Anales de la Facultad de Medicina (2025) · DOI: 10.15381/anales.v86i3.31240

Resumen

On June 2, 1924, Carlos Monge Medrano presented to the National Academy of Medicine of Peru the first clinical case of chronic mountain sickness (CMM), and then, published in 1925. He described a severe erythrocytosis initially confused with Vaquez’s disease, but which was differentiated by its reversibility when descending in altitude. In 1929, in Paris, professor Roger confirmed that it was a distinct entity and proposed the name “Monge’s disease” in honor of its discoverer. One hundred years after that description, MMC continues to affect high-altitude populations, with symptoms of chronic hypoxia and polycythemia. Although introgression of the EPAS1 gene has not been confirmed in the Andes as in Tibetans, recent studies point to genetic, epigenetic, and hormonal adaptive mechanisms. Monge Medrano’s legacy is still alive and is key to understanding human responses to hypoxia in high-altitude environments.

Instituciones: Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola