Predicting Recurrence in Cryptogenic Stroke Patients with Patent Foramen Ovale

Recurrent stroke was associated with atrial septal aneurysm in medically treated patients and with larger residual shunts in patients with PFO closure.

In patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale (PFO), closure with a transcatheter device reduces risks for recurrent stroke, according to two randomized studies. Now, two research groups add to our understanding of the optimal use of this procedure through their analyses of specific echocardiographic characteristics of such patients.

Turc and colleagues pooled patient-level data on medically treated individuals from two observational registries and two randomized trials and independently reassessed shunt size and atrial septal aneurysm from echocardiographic data. Atrial septal aneurysm was defined as ≥10 mm septum primum excursion into either atrium; large shunt size was defined as >30 microbubbles in the left atrium on trans…

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHeart Valve Collaboratory (Scientific Committee Member, Chair of the Publications Committee)