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SHR Neuro Cancer Cardio Lipid Metab Microb

Schuchlenz, H; Pachler, C; Binder, R; Mair, J; Toth, GG; Gabriel, H.
Review and guidelines for diagnosis and interventional closure of PFO
J KARDIOL. 2019; 26(7-8): 178-192.
Web of Science

Co-authors Med Uni Graz: Pachler Christoph; Toth-Gayor Gabor
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Abstract:: A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a communication between the right and left atrium, typically diagnosed by transthoracic and transesophageal contrast echocardiography. In about a third of patients who are diagnosed with an acute ischaemic stroke, investigation finds no apparent cause. The so-called cryptogenic stroke (CS) patients are more likely to have a PFO than patients in the general population. A paradoxical embolism through a PFO is hypothesized to be a leading cause of CS, especially in younger patients without cardio-cerebrovacscular risk factors for stroke. It has been a long-running controversy as to whether a PFO should be closed or not to prevent recurrent strokes in patients diagnosed with CS. Now there is evidence from four randomised studies that percutaneous PFO closure is superior to antiplatelet therapy for the prevention of recurrent strokes in patients with a PFO and a CS. The identification and quantification of anatomical and functional PFO characteristics by transesophageal echocardiography is of particular importance as percutaneous PFO closure is considered as the initial therapy especially for those with a CS and a high risk PFO.
Find related publications in this database (Keywords): patent foramen ovale; PFO; cryptogenic stroke; CS; secondary prevention; percutaneous PFO closure