Significance of Patent Foramen Ovale in Patients with GOLD Stage II Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

ABSTRACT: Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common finding in adults. A PFO is associated with right to left shunting but its importance in the aetiology of hypoxia in early COPD remains uncertain, although it has not proved possible to demonstrate a role for PFOs in the aetiology of hypoxia in patients with Global Initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage III/IV disease. We compared the characteristics of GOLD stage II patients with or without a PFO and assessed its impact on exercise performance. Methods: In 22 GOLD stage II COPD patients we measured exercise performance, arterial oxygen tension and lung function and used contrast transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) to assess the presence of a PFO. Patients (n=20) underwent TCD measurements during

SUBMITTER: Martolini D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5556863 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature