The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of echocardiographical
ly detectable patent foramen ovale (PFO) in elderly patients who have strok
es from cerebral infarction, as well as to assess the association between P
FOs and other risk factors for stroke disease. Forty-three patients aged gr
eater than or equal to 65 years admitted consecutively with cerebral infarc
tion shown on computerised tomography of the brain were assessed using tran
soesophageal echocardiography A PFO was present in 8 (19%) of the 43 patien
ts. Four patients (50%) in this PFO group had stroke risk factors. Two were
in atrial fibrillation and, of the six patients in sinus rhythm, a risk fa
ctor was present in two, both of whom had diabetes mellitus. A PFO was not
detected in 35 patients. Twenty-nine (83%) of the patients in this group ha
d risk factors, with 18 having two or more. Seven patients were in atrial f
ibrillation. Of the 28 patients in sinus rhythm, risk factors were present
in 22 (78%).