title: CPAP suppression of awake right-to-left shunting through patent foramen ovale in a patient with obstructive sleep apnoea.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Département des Maladies Respiratoires, Hôpital Sainte Marguerite, BP 29, 13274 Marseille Cedex 9, France. christophe.pinet@mail.ap-hm.fr
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinet
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orehek
mesh_terms: D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*