Patent foramen ovale (PFO)

Through our studies of intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses, we have discovered the importance of another source of shunt: the patent foramen ovale (PFO). Data from several studies suggest that PFO is prevalent in ~25 to 40% of the general population. Our work has revealed that the PFO is physiologically and clinically significant for understanding differences in pulmonary gas exchange efficiency, core body temperature, pulmonary hypertension and stroke. Accordingly, it is not as insignificant as previously assumed, so it should not be considered to be trivial.

Most significant publications in this area:

Lovering, A.T., M.K. Stickland, M. Amann, J.S. Hokanson and M.W. Eldridge. Effect of a patent foramen ovale on pulmonary gas exchange during normoxic and hypoxic exercise. J Appl Physiol110: 1354–1361, 2011. PMID: 21372097, PMCID: PMC3290103.

J.T. Davis, C-Y.A. Ng, S.D. Hill, R.C. Padgett and A.T. Lovering. Higher oesophageal temperature at rest and during exercise in humans with patent foramen ovale. J Physiol 593(20):4615-30, 2015. PMID: 26173096.

A.T. Lovering, M. Lozo, O. Barak, J.T. Davis, M. Lojpur, P. Lozo, K. Caljkusic, &, Z. Dujic. Resting arterial hypoxemia in patients with chronic heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and patent foramen ovale Exp Phsyiol 101 (5):657-670 2016. PMID: 26990684

J.T. Davis, M.W. Hay, A.M. Hardin, M.D. White and A.T. Lovering. Effect of a patent foramen ovale in humans on thermal responses to passive cooling and heating. J Appl Physiol123(6):1423-1432 2017. PMID:28819008