Platypnoea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome in COVID-19

Francesca Salvotti; Francesco Poiatti; Stefano Bressa; Giovanni Montani; Matteo Nardin; Damiano Rizzoni

doi:10.12890/2021_002849

Platypnoea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome in COVID-19

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2021 Oct 22;8(10):002849. doi: 10.12890/2021_002849. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Francesca Salvotti^{1

2}, Francesco Poiatti^{1

2}, Stefano Bressa^{1

2}, Giovanni Montani¹, Matteo Nardin¹, Damiano Rizzoni^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Third Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
² Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
³ Division of Medicine, A.S.S.T. Spedali Civili di Brescia, Montichiari, Italy.

Abstract

Platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a rare disorder and its pathophysiology has puzzled clinicians for years. Few cases of POS are described in COVID-19 patients in the literature, with a high variability of conditions related to the syndrome. In this article, we report the case of a patient admitted to our hospital for SARS-CoV-2 interstitial pneumonia, who developed POS during the hospitalization.

Learning points: Platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a possible and rare condition associated with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.A prompt diagnosis of POS is important in order to start careful and adequate oxygen supplementation.Clinical data on COVID-19 evolution in patients with POS and possible therapeutic and rehabilitative strategies are not available in the literature.

Keywords: COVID-19; Platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome; SARS-CoV-2.