[Abnormalities of interatrial septum and ischemic stroke in young people].
OBJECTIVE
To verify the frequency of patent foramen ovale (PFO) among patients with ischemic stroke (cryptogenic or with a known cause) investigated by transcranial doppler (TCD) and transesophageal echocardiography. Secondarily, to determine the diagnostic validity of the former, compared with the later method.


METHODS
Retrospectively, 124 patients (<51 years old) with ischemic stroke were submitted to TCD and or transesophageal echocardiography. The patients were classified as cryptogenic stroke or not.


RESULTS
We could found an important association between cryptogenic ischemic stroke and PFO (odds ratio 4.3--CI 95% 1.7-10.7). Only five cases of interatrial septal aneurysm were diagnosed among patients with PFO. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values exhibited values upper of 85%, equivalents, at least based on confidence intervals.


CONCLUSIONS
We could determine, for the first time in our country, a strong association between cryptogenic ischemic stroke and PFO. The TCD is a valuable diagnostic resource in this context since its validity was considered excellent. A detailed investigation in these cases should always be done due to the possibility of FOP closure.
Negrão
Edson M
EM
Centro SARAH de Formação e Pesquisa, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Reabilitação, Hospital SARAH Centro/DF. emarcio@terra.com.br
Brandi
Ivar V
IV
Nunes
Simone V
SV
Beraldo
Paulo S S
PS
D000328:Adult; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial