title: [Stroke. are there any difference between patients with or without patent foramen ovale in left atrial appendage systolic function?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the systolic function of the left atrial appendage (LAA) in a group with and without patent foramen ovale (PFO) who suffered ischemic cerebrovascular events.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 2010 and October 2011, 17 patients were referred for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) after suffering a stroke. PFO was defined as the passage of at least one bubble through atrial septum with bubble test. We compared systolic velocity in the appendage between patients with and without PFO and a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Were 8 women and 9 men, mean age 54.1 ± 19.5 years and 8 patients were under 55 years of age. All patients had suffered a ischemic cerebrovascular events, 41.2% had stroke, 52.9% transient ischemic attack and amaurosis fugax 5.9%. In the assessment of TEE, 11.8% had atrial septal aneurysm and 35.3% PFO. Mean LAA systolic velocity was 66.3 ± 20.3 cm / sec. There was no difference in systolic velocity of the LAA between patients with and without PFO (67.5 ± 11.8 cm / sec vs 65.7 ± 24.3 cm / sec respectively, p = 0.87). The control group of 8 patients, 5 women and 3 men, mean age 39.5 ± 18 years, had a LAA systolic velocity of 77.6 ± 28.9 cm / sec, no significant differences with ischemic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no differences in systolic function of the LAA between patients with and without PFO with ischemic cerebrovascular event.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Privado Centro Médico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. aletreras@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alejandro E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perrote
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Concari
authors.forename: Eduardo J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Brenna
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000502:physiology*; D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013599:Systole