Pulmonary Embolism, Patent Foramen Ovale, and Ischemic Stroke: A Dangerous Triad?

Among patients with PE, those who had a PFO had a higher rate of recent ischemic stroke than those without a PFO.

Previous small studies have identified an increased risk for stroke in patients with both pulmonary embolism (PE) and a patent foramen ovale (PFO). To determine the frequency of radiologic and clinical stroke and their association with PFO, researchers conducted a four-center study of 361 patients (mean age, 66; fairly even sex distribution) who had PE within the previous 5 days. Participants underwent transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) with contrast and brain MRI within 7 days after study enrollment. Brain MRI included diffusion-weighted imaging, a sequence sensitive to recent ischemic stroke.

The frequency of previous stroke was higher in the PFO group than in the non-PFO group (12.5% vs. 5.3%). Deep venous thrombosis was seen in 40% of th…

Reviewing Author

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Pulmonary Embolism, Patent Foramen Ovale, and Ischemic Stroke: A Dangerous Triad?

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Reviewing Author