Unexplained Dyspnea

The language of medically unexplained dyspnea.

BACKGROUND Medically unexplained dyspnea (MUD) refers to a condition characterized by a sensation of dyspnea and is typically applied to patients presenting with anxiety and hyperventilation without cardiopulmonary explanations for their dyspnea. The diagnosis is difficult. We investigated whether descriptors of dyspnea and associated symptoms of MUD are differentially diagnostic. METHODS A r...

Persistent Unexplained Dyspnea: A Case of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome

Regarding a patient with dyspnea, the history and physical examination often lead to the correct diagnosis. In some circumstances, when more than one underlying disease is present, the diagnostic process can be more challenging. We describe an unusual case of dyspnea and persistent hypoxemia related to a hepatopulmonary syndrome in a 53-year-old patient with known heart failure and chronic live...

Constrictive pericarditis presenting as unexplained dyspnea with recurrent pleural effusion.

There are myriad causes of unexplained dyspnea and pleural effusion. When a patient presents with these symptoms, an underlying pulmonary pathology is the commonly suggested etiology. We present a patient with unexplained dyspnea and recurrent right-side pleural effusion who was evaluated with thorough physical examination and definitive imaging modalities, including right and left heart cathet...

E/e’ Ratio in Patients with Unexplained Dyspnea: Lack of Accuracy in Estimating Left Ventricular Filling Pressure Santos et al: E/e’ in Unexplained Dyspnea

Unexplained persistent dyspnea in a young woman with eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis.

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare inflammatory disease that primarily involves the nose and sinuses. Involvement of the eye orbit and larynx has also been described. However, it is very rare for this disease to involve the lower respiratory tract and cause dyspnea. We describe a rare case of EAF involving the lower respiratory tract with airway narrowing. A 29-year-old female w...