HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pinet, C Articles by Orehek, J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pinet, C Articles by Orehek, J

CPAP suppression of awake right-to-left shunting through patent foramen ovale in a patient with obstructive sleep apnoea

Département des Maladies Respiratoires, Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, Marseille, France

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr C Pinet
Département des Maladies Respiratoires, Hôpital Sainte Marguerite, BP 29, 13274 Marseille Cedex 9, France; christophe.pinet{at}mail.ap-hm.fr

The prevalence of an echocardiographically visible patent foramen ovale (PFO) is higher in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) than in normal controls. We report a patient who presented with OSAS and right-to-left shunting (RLS) through the PFO in whom the RLS disappeared after treatment for 1 week with nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This case shows the role of OSA in generating an awake RLS through a PFO and its possible reversibility by CPAP. The mechanism of reversible awake RLS through PFO in OSAS is discussed.

Abbreviations: AHI, apnoea/hypopnoea index; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; OSAS, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome; PFO, patent foramen ovale; RLS, right-to-left shunting

Keywords: obstructive sleep apnoea; right-to-left shunting; patent foramen ovale; continuous positive airway pressure