title: Ascending aortic aneurysm and patent foramen ovale: a rare cause of platypnea-orthodeoxia.
abstract: Platypnea-orthodeoxia is a rare syndrome characterized by dyspnea and hypoxia induced by the upright position and relieved by the supine position. Several factors related to atrial anatomy can facilitate shunting through an atrial septal defect; in many cases, the syndrome is associated with patent foramen ovale and right-to-left shunt, and has also been linked to aortic aneurysm. We present a case of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome in a 61-year-old woman with patent foramen ovale and ascending aortic aneurysm.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal. ruibaptista@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.forename: António Marinho
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Graça
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Providência
mesh_terms: D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture