A 28-year-old trekker presents with acute dyspnea, pink frothy sputum, and bilateral crackles after rapid ascent to 4500 m in Ladakh on day 2. SpO₂ is 64% on room air. Chest X-ray shows patchy asymmetric alveolar infiltrates. After emergency descent and recovery, spirometry is repeated. The pattern marked **A** in the diagram — a restrictive pattern with reduced DLCO that normalises after descent — is observed. Which of the following best explains the reversibility of this spirometric abnormality in high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE)?
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