title: Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale reduces the frequency of migraine attacks.
abstract: Among 215 patients referred for percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) after presumed paradoxical embolism, we assessed the prevalence of migraine. In the year prior to PFO closure, 48 (22%) patients had migraine, twice the expected prevalence of 10 to 12% in the general European population. In patients with migraine with aura, percutaneous PFO closure reduced the frequency of migraine attacks by 54% (1.2 +/- 0.8 vs 0.6 +/- 0.8 per month; p = 0.001) and in patients with migraine without aura by 62% (1.2 +/- 0.7 vs 0.4 +/- 0.4 per month; p = 0.006). PFO closure did not have an effect on headache frequency in patients with nonmigraine headaches (1.4 +/- 0.9 vs 1.0 +/- 0.9 per month; p = NS).
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland. markus.schwerzmann@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwerzmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiher
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nedeltchev
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Mattle
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wahl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Windecker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019320:Embolism, Paradoxical / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome