Patent foramen ovale in elderly stroke patients

Citation
Rr. Lewis et al., Patent foramen ovale in elderly stroke patients, INT J CL PR, 55(9), 2001, pp. 596-598
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE
ISSN journal
13685031 → ACNP
Volume
55
Issue
9
Year of publication
2001
Pages
596 - 598
Database
ISI
SICI code
1368-5031(200111)55:9<596:PFOIES>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
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%).