title: Short-Term and Two-Year Rate of Recurrent Cerebrovascular Events in Patients with Acute Cerebral Ischemia of Undetermined Aetiology, with and without a Patent Foramen Ovale.
abstract: Purpose. We investigated stroke recurrence in patients with acute ischemic stroke of undetermined aetiology, with or without a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Methods. Consecutive stroke patients underwent to Transcranial Doppler and Transesophageal Echocardiography for PFO detection. Secondary stroke prevention was based on current guidelines. Results. PFO was detected in 57/129 (44%) patients. The rate of recurrent stroke did not significantly differ between patients with and without a PFO: 0.0% versus 1.4% (1 week), 1.7% versus 2.7% (1 month), and 3.5% versus 4.2% (3 months), respectively. The 2-year rates were 10.4% (5/48) in medically treated PFO and 8.3% (6/72) in PFO-negative patients (P = 0.65), with a relative risk of 1.25. No recurrent events occurred in 9 patients treated with percutaneous closure of PFO. Conclusion. PFO was not associated with increased rate of recurrent stroke. Age-related factors associated with stroke recurrence in cryptogenic stroke should be taken into account when patients older than 55 years are included in PFO studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Stroke Unit, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Legge
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sallustio
authors.forename: Emiliano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Marchis
authors.forename: Costanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diomedi
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borzi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanzione