Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) and Stroke: The Controversy Continues

A nonrandomized trial suggests that closure may be beneficial, but potential biases limit conclusions.

Because approximately 20% of healthy people have a patent foramen ovale (PFO), it is detected commonly during stroke evaluation. Despite the high prevalence of PFO among patients with cryptogenic stroke, a cause-and-effect relationship has not been established. Physicians are nonetheless eager to prevent future events. Treatment choices include antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, endovascular procedures, or surgical closure.

Researchers now report the results of a nonrandomized study using prospectively collected data on 121 adults with PFO and cryptogenic stroke or TIA. Patients were treated at the discretion of the treating physician. Some baseline patient characteristics differed, most notably average age. Recurrent stroke was the primar…

Reviewing Authors

R. Charles Callison, MD

Harold P. Adams, Jr.,, MD

Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) and Stroke: The Controversy Continues

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Reviewing Authors