title: Transcranial Doppler is Complementary to Echocardiography for Detection and Risk Stratification of Patent Foramen Ovale.
abstract: In patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO), strategies are needed to identify patients at higher risk, who might benefit from PFO closure.
  
  
  
  We studied the frequency of detection of a right-to-left shunt (RLS) using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) among patients with cryptogenic stroke and transcranial Doppler (TCD) to detect RLS, and analyzed the prediction of recurrent stroke according to TCD shunt grade, by detection of RLS on TEE, and by atrial septal aneurysm or mobility.
  
  
  
  Among 334 patients with TCD, 69.8% were female, with a mean (SD) age of 53 (14) years, with a median follow-up of 420 days. There were 284 cases with TCD and TEE; 54 (19%) had atrial septal aneurysm or mobility. Echocardiography failed to show a RLS in 43 (15.1%) of the patients who had TCD and TEE, even in some patients with high-grade shunts on TCD: 18 (42%) were grade 3 or higher on TCD. Survival free of stroke or transient ischemic attack was predicted significantly by TCD shunt grade < 2 (P = 0.028), shunt grade < 3 (P = 0.03), and shunt grade < 4 (P < 0.0001); this was attenuated by adjustment for risk factors in Cox regression (P = 0.08). Neither RLS on TEE (P = 0.47), or atrial septal aneurysm or mobility (P = 0.08), predicted events.
  
  
  
  Our findings suggest that TCD might be more sensitive than TEE for detection of RLS, which misses some cases with substantial RLS, and might be valuable for prediction of recurrent stroke or transient ischemic attack in patients with PFO. TCD complements TEE for management of suspected paradoxical embolism.
authors.affiliation: Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tobe
authors.affiliation: Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Centre, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Chrysi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bogiatzi
authors.affiliation: Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Centre, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Munoz
authors.affiliation: Brandon Regional Health Centre, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamayo
authors.affiliation: Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Centre, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: dspence@robarts.ca.
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Spence
mesh_terms: D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D019320:Embolism, Paradoxical / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D045423:Microbubbles; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver