The unusual connection between Right-Sided Aortic Arch and bronchial asthma

Abstract

This work describes a rare clinical case of anomalous positioning of the aortic arch in a female patient with asthma. It highlights literature suggesting that this anomaly may sometimes mimic bronchial asthma, underscoring the importance of conducting bronchodilator reversibility tests more frequently to identify underlying asthma. The patient, a woman presenting with asthma symptoms, was found to have a Right-Sided Aortic Arch (RSAA), which is an unusual finding in the absence of congenital heart disease. Given the rarity of this presentation, it underscores the need for thorough evaluation and consideration of alternative diagnoses in patients with atypical asthma symptoms. This case emphasizes the importance of comprehensive diagnostic approaches, including spirometry and bronchodilator testing, to accurately diagnose and manage patients with asthma-like symptoms associated with rare anatomical variations such as RSAA.