Offenes Foramen ovale: gute Gründe, es zu verschließen

2018 ◽  
Vol 143 (05) ◽  
pp. 354-356
Author(s):  
Bernhard Meier

AbstractA patent foramen ovale (PFO) is not to be considered a disease as it is present in about 25 % of people. Yet, it is the prime reason for paradoxical embolism that can cause serious problems, such as death, stroke, myocardial infarction, and peripheral ischemia. The frequency of such events is probably underestimated as other causes tend to be blamed for them. Device PFO closure can be easily accomplished as outpatient procedure with minimal discomfort and risk and it has been referred to as mechanical vaccination. Randomized trials have proved its value for reduction of recurrent stroke. There is also good evidence that PFO closure solves problems like platypnoea orthodeoxia and exercise desaturation, improves migraine, and is helpful in sleep apnoea. In addition, it renders diving and high altitude climbing safer. The absolute risk of a PFO is dependent on its size and its association with an atrial septal aneurysm, a Eustachian valve, or a Chiari network. The number needed to treat to prevent one stroke by PFO closure may be as low as 2 over lifetime in selected patients.

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David E Thaler ◽  
Issa J Dahabreh ◽  
Robin Ruthazer ◽  
Anthony J Furlan ◽  
Mark Reisman ◽  
...  

Introduction: The Risk of Paradoxical Embolism (RoPE) Score can disaggregate patients with cryptogenic stroke (CS) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) into those who are more likely to have a pathogenic PFO (high RoPE score) than an incidental PFO (low RoPE score). Those with higher RoPE scores have a lower risk of recurrent stroke and different recurrence predictors compared to those with low RoPE scores. Hypotheses: Patients with high RoPE scores benefit more from PFO closure than patients with low RoPE scores. Patients with high RoPE scores and risk factors for recurrence should benefit even more. Methods: The RoPE score was created from a database of CS patients with known PFO status to estimate stratum-specific PFO-attributable fraction and recurrence rates. Variables that predict stroke recurrence in high RoPE score groups (atrial septal aneurysm, history of stroke/TIA prior to index event) were added – the “RoPE Recurrence Score.” Using pooled individual patient data from all 3 RCTs of PFO closure vs. medical therapy (ITT populations; stroke outcome) we tested the ability of the scores to predict the heterogeneity of response to assigned treatment. Results: The mean RoPE score was significantly higher (6.8 vs. 6.3) with smaller variance (Stdev 1.5 vs. 1.9) in the pooled RCT population than in the original RoPE cohort (p<0.0001). Hazard ratios favoring closure were 0.82 (0.42-1.59, p=0.56) in the low RoPE score (<7) group and 0.31 (0.11-0.85, p=0.02) in the high RoPE score (≥7) group but the interaction p-value was not significant (p=0.12). The RoPE Recurrence score did not improve the prediction of treatment response (low score HR=0.65 (0.31-1.37), p=0.26; high score HR=0.58 (0.26-1.26), p=0.17; interaction p=0.82). Conclusion: As expected, the HR favoring closure trended lower in the high RoPE score group in the RCTs but missed statistical significance. The RoPE Recurrence score did not improve the prediction. This may be due to the narrow distribution of relatively high RoPE scores amongst RCT patients and so a low power to detect heterogeneity of treatment effect. Given that PFO closure can only prevent PFO-related recurrences, the treatment effect may also have been obscured by including recurrent strokes with non-PFO-related mechanisms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 244-249
Author(s):  
Lu He ◽  
Gesheng Cheng ◽  
Yajuan Du ◽  
Yushun Zhang

Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is widely performed to prevent recurrent stroke or transient ischemic attack in patients with cryptogenic stroke. However, the influence of different degrees of right-to-left shunting (RLS) has rarely been reported. We retrospectively evaluated the cases of 268 patients with cryptogenic stroke who underwent PFO closure at our hospital from April 2012 through April 2015. In accordance with RLS severity, we divided the patients into 2 groups: persistent RLS during normal breathing and the Valsalva maneuver (n=112) and RLS only during the Valsalva maneuver (n=156). Baseline characteristics, morphologic features, and procedural and follow-up data were reviewed. The primary endpoint was stroke or transient ischemic attack. More patients in the persistent group had multiple or bilateral ischemic lesions, as well as a larger median PFO diameter (2.5 mm [range, 1.8–3.9 mm]) than did patients in the Valsalva maneuver group (1.3 mm [range, 0.9–1.9 mm]) (P &lt;0.001). Atrial septal aneurysm was more frequent in the persistent group: 25 patients (22.3%) compared with 18 (11.5%) (P=0.018). Three patients in the persistent group had residual shunting. The annual risk of recurrent ischemic stroke was similar between groups: 0.298% (persistent) and 0.214% (Valsalva maneuver). Our findings suggest that patients with persistent RLS have more numerous severe ischemic lesions, larger PFOs, and a higher incidence of atrial septal aneurysm than do those without. Although our persistent group had a greater risk of residual shunting after PFO closure, recurrence of ischemic events did not differ significantly from that in the Valsalva maneuver group.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 26-32
Author(s):  
D. V. Ognerubov ◽  
A. S. Tereshchenko ◽  
A. N. Samko ◽  
G. К. Arutyunyan ◽  
O. A. Sivakova ◽  
...  

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is detectable in more than 25% of the adult population and is generally clinically insignificant. However, it can be a cause of paradoxical embolism in some cases. Randomized trials indicate that endovascular PFO closure in patients with a history of cryptogenic stroke is an effective method for the secondary prevention of catastrophic brain damage.Objective: to study the safety and efficiency of endovascular PFO closure in young patients with a history of cryptogenic stroke.Patients and methods. Sixty-two patients, including (22 males and 40 females) women, underwent percutaneous PFO closure in May 2018 to March 2020. The patients' mean age was 37.4±7.6 years. The inclusion criteria were a prior cryptogenic ischemic stroke lasting less than 12 months and PFO with a high risk for paradoxical embolism (PFO concurrent with atrial septal aneurysm or hypermobility; PFO, ≥2 mm size; the presence of the Chiari network and/or the Eustachian valve).Results and discussion. The technical success of the operation was achieved in all cases. In 50 (80.6%) patients, the right chamber of the heart was completely isolated from the left one in the first 3 months. During the first year, the atria were also completely isolated in 10 (16.1%) patients. A left-to-right shunt persisted in 2 (3.2%) patents 12 months later. Two patients were found to have main procedural complications: one had perioperative atrial fibrillation and the other had pseudoaneurysm formation at the puncture site.Conclusion. Endovascular PFO closure is a safe and effective operation for the secondary prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke. In our study, blood shunting through the PFO was stopped in 96.6% of patients at less than 6 months after surgery, which suggests that there is a rapid and effective reduction in the risk of paradoxical embolism.


Cardiology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 143 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 62-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Abdelghani ◽  
Sahar A.O. El-Shedoudy ◽  
Martina Nassif ◽  
Berto J. Bouma ◽  
Robbert J. de Winter

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common benign finding in healthy subjects, but its prevalence is higher in patients with stroke of unclear cause (cryptogenic stroke). PFO is believed to be associated with stroke through paradoxical embolism, and certain clinical and anatomical criteria seem to increase the likelihood of a PFO to be pathological. Recent trials have shown that closure of PFO, especially if associated with an atrial septal aneurysm and/or a large interatrial shunt, may reduce the risk of recurrent stroke as compared to medical treatment. However, it remains challenging to risk stratify patients with suspected PFO-related stroke and to decide if device closure is indicated. We sought to review contemporary evidence and to conclude an evidence-based strategy to prevent recurrence of PFO-related stroke.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vafa Alakbarzade ◽  
Tracey Keteepe-Arachi ◽  
Nazia Karsan ◽  
Robin Ray ◽  
Anthony C Pereira

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is the most common anatomical cause of an interatrial shunt. It is usually asymptomatic but may cause paradoxical embolism, manifesting as stroke, myocardial infarction or visceral/peripheral ischaemia. PFO is a risk factor for stroke and may be associated with migraine with aura. New evidence suggests PFO closure reduces the risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke in a highly selected population of stroke survivors: those aged 60 years or younger with a cryptogenic stroke syndrome, a large right-to-left shunt, an atrial septal aneurysm and no evidence of atrial fibrillation. They benefit from percutaneous PFO closure in addition to antiplatelet therapy, rather than antiplatelet therapy alone. Current evidence does not support PFO closure in the treatment of migraine.


Author(s):  
Gianluca Rigatelli ◽  
Marco Zuin ◽  
Fabio Dell'Avvocata ◽  
Luigi Pedon ◽  
Roberto Zecchel ◽  
...  

Background: RoPE score calculator has been proposed to stratify the patients in whom PFO may be considered not a confounding but presumably a causative factor.Objectives To implement the RoPE score calculator.Methods.  We reviewed the medical data of 1040 consecutive patients (mean age 47.3±17.1 years) prospectively enrolled in two centres over a 13 years period for management of PFO in order to select anatomic and functional parameters to be incorporated in a modified RoPE score. A scoring system (AF-RoPE) was build up and applied in a prospective blind fashion to a cohort of  406 consecutive patients (mean age 43.6 ±17. 5 years, 264 females)  with cryptogenic stroke and PFO comparing its performance with the standard RoPE.Results. Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that right-to-left  (R-L) shunt at rest (OR 5.9), huge ASA (> 20 mm) (OR 3.9), long tunnelized PFO (> 12 mm) (OR 3.5), and massive R-L shunt (grade 5 by TCD) (OR 1.9) conferred the highest risk of recurrent stroke. The AF-RoPE score  resulted in a more precise separation of patients with RoPE score 8-10. Patients with AF-RoPE score > 11 had more stroke recurrences and more diffuse area of stroke on MRI in the medical history than those ranging 10 to 7 or less.Conclusion. The AF-RoPE score discriminates cryptogenic stroke patients who are more likely to develop recurrent stroke compared with a RoPE score between 8-10.  These highest risk patients may be more likely to benefit from PFO closure.


Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Jung ◽  
Benny Kim ◽  
Joseph Massaro ◽  
Anthony J Furlan

Background: Cryptogenic stroke may have several etiologies including paradoxical embolism through a patent foramen ovale (PFO). A cardiac source of embolism may be suggested by multiple infarcts, sometimes hemorrhagic, in different vascular distributions or a cortical wedge shaped infarct. We report the baseline diffusion weighted MRI (DWMRI) characteristics in patients with cryptogenic stroke and a patent foramen ovale (PFO) from the CLOSURE I trial. Methods: CLOSURE I compared device closure versus medical therapy for secondary prevention in patients with cryptogenic TIA or stroke and a PFO. Of 909 patients randomized, 562 patients demonstrated acute infarcts on baseline DWMRI and are included in this analysis. Multivariate proportional hazard Cox regression compared imaging subgroups with remaining randomized patients Results: Single infarcts were found in 62% of patients. Of these, 61% were anterior circulation, 30% posterior, and 8.5% were of uncertain territory. Of the anterior circulation infarcts, 40% were cortical, 36% subcortical, and 24% affected both the cortical and subcortical regions. Of the posterior circulation infarcts, 45% were thalamic or cerebellar. Of 562 patients, 18.5% had a single subcortical lesion <1.5cm in diameter and met the radiological definition of an acute lacunar infarct. Multiple infarcts were found in 38%. Infarcts in a single vascular territory were found in 23%, often in the anterior circulation (66%). Infarcts in multiple vascular territories were found in 15%. Hemorrhagic infarction was present in 9%. Adjusting for patient characteristics, no significant difference in 2 year rate of TIA, stroke or death was found compared to remaining randomized patients. Discussion: The specificity of infarct patterns for embolism in patients with cryptogenic stroke and a PFO is uncertain. We found no significant relationship between lacunar or subcortical infarction and the risk of recurrent TIA or stroke. Baseline infarct patterns on DWMRI in patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO may not be useful in predicting recurrent stroke risk or determining best prevention therapy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 992-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Chen ◽  
Wenjun Deng ◽  
Igor Palacios ◽  
Ignacio Inglessis-Azuaje ◽  
David McMullin ◽  
...  

Patent foramen ovale (PFO)-related stroke is increasingly recognized as an important etiology of ischemic embolic stroke—accounting for up to 50% of strokes previously considered ‘cryptogenic’ or with an unknown mechanism. As a ‘back door to the brain,’ PFO can allow venous clots to enter arterial circulation via interatrial right-to-left shunting, potentially resulting in ischemic stroke. We observe that clinically, PFO-related stroke affects women of childbearing age, and that pregnancy—owing to major changes in hemocoagulative, hormonal, and cardiovascular parameters—can enhance stroke risks. However, no systematic study has been performed and little is known regarding complications, pregnancy outcomes and treatment for PFO-related stroke during pregnancy. To identify and characterize the complications and clinical outcomes related to PFOs during pregnancy, we performed a literature review and analysis from all reported cases of pregnancy with PFO-related complications in the medical literature from 1970 to 2015. We find that during pregnancy and post-partum, PFO is associated with complications affecting multiple organs, including the brain, heart and lung. The three principal complications reported are stroke, pulmonary emboli and myocardial infarction. In contrast to other pregnancy-related stroke etiologies, which peak during later pregnancy and postpartum, PFO-related stroke peaks during early pregnancy (first and second trimester—60%), and most patients had good neurological outcome (77%). In patients with PFO with recurrent stroke during pregnancy, additional key factors include high-risk PFO morphology (atrial septal aneurysm), larger right-to-left shunt, multiple gestation and concurrent hypercoagulability. Compared to strokes of other etiologies during pregnancy, most PFO stroke patients experienced uneventful delivery (93%) of healthy babies with a good clinical outcome. We conclude with recommended clinical treatment strategies for pregnant patients with PFO suggested by the data from these cases, and the clinical experience of our Cardio-Neurology Clinic.


Author(s):  
Lennox Jerzyna ◽  
Abhisheik Prashar ◽  
George Youssef ◽  
Mark Sader

Abstract Background Percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure has been well established in the secondary prevention of cryptogenic stroke with overall low rates of procedural complications. One such complication is PFO closure device thrombus formation which is now rarely reported with newer generation devices. Case Summary We present the unusual case of a 59 year old woman with myelofibrosis who developed late onset recurrent embolic strokes related to Amplatzer PFO closure device thrombus whilst therapeutically anticoagulated on Warfarin. Surgical management was deemed too high risk and our patient was conservatively managed with enoxaparin. Serial trans-thoracic echocardiography demonstrated reduction in thrombus size and the patient had no further neurological events. Discussion Overall the risk of serious complications following percutaneous PFO closure, such as device-associated thrombus, remains low. The risk of thrombus formation in patients with hypercoagulable states is not well characterised. Despite good evidence for the efficacy in preventing recurrent cryptogenic stroke, the role of PFO closure in addition to anticoagulation is unclear. Given this uncertain benefit of PFO closure in anticoagulated patients and the unclear risk profile, patient selection and thorough preprocedural evaluation is vital when assessing the appropriateness of percutaneous PFO closure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhanang Ali Yafi ◽  
Azmi Azmi

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common disorder that affects between 20-34% of the adult population. This condition is a benign finding for most people. However, In some the PFO can open widely and enabling paradoxical embolism to transit from venous to arterial circulation, which is associated with stroke and systemic embolization. There are still unclear to date regarding the effectiveness of pharmacological anticoagulant therapy, defined as antithrombin or antiplatelet therapy, which has proven to be more beneficial for patients with PFO and cryptogenic stroke. In addition, surgical and transcutaneous PFO closure has been proposed for secondary prevention of stroke in patients with cryptogenic stroke with PFO. Both catheter-based and surgical modes of closure have been shown to reduce the incidence of subsequent embolism substantially. This review will discuss the evidence regarding the relationship between PFO and cryptogenic stroke and decision making for management strategies.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document