Patent foramen ovale: echocardiographic detection and clinical relevance in stroke

Marco R Di Tullio

doi:10.1016/j.echo.2009.12.008

Patent foramen ovale: echocardiographic detection and clinical relevance in stroke

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2010 Feb;23(2):144-55; quiz 220. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2009.12.008.

Author

Marco R Di Tullio¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Cardiology, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. md42@columbia.edu

PMID: 20152695
DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2009.12.008

Abstract

This article reviews the main clinical aspects of patent foramen ovale (PFO), such as its prevalence in the population, the diagnostic techniques to detect its presence, its role as a risk factor for ischemic stroke of otherwise unexplained origin, and its controversial association with migraine. Some cofactors possibly involved in the association between PFO and stroke are discussed, along with the various therapeutic options to prevent recurrent cerebral ischemic events in stroke patients with a PFO.

MeSH terms

Echocardiography / methods*
Foramen Ovale, Patent / complications*
Foramen Ovale, Patent / diagnostic imaging*
Humans
Image Enhancement / methods*
Stroke / diagnostic imaging*
Stroke / etiology*