【Abstract】 Objective To analyze the correlations between the mt5351G and mt6680C genotypes in mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) haplogroup M and susceptibility to high altitude pulmonary edema ( HAPE)among the Hans. Methods Specimens from206 Hans cases of HAPE and 144 matched Hans controls were collected. Then PCR-RFLP method was used to determine haplogroup M and N of mtDNA, and PCR-LDR was used to genotype mt5351G and mt6680C in the haplogroup M in these samples. Results The frequencies of haplogroup Mand N were 49. 0% and 51.0% in the HAPE patients, and 47. 2% and 52. 8% in the controls, respectively, with no significant difference between the HAPE patients and the controls. In the haplogroup M, the genotype of mt6680C and mt5351G frequencies in the HAPE patients were both significantly higher than the controls ( both 12. 0% vs. 1. 5% , P = 0. 016) . Conclusion The existence of mt5351G and mt6680C genotypes in the haplogroup Mis a risk factor for HAPE among the Hans.