Patent foramen ovale in elderly stroke patients

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of echocardiographically detectable patent foramen ovale (PFO) in elderly patients who have strokes from cerebral infarction, as well as to assess the association between PFOs and other risk factors for stroke disease. Forty-three patients aged > or = 65 years admitted consecutively with cerebral infarction shown on computerised tomography of the brain were assessed using transoesophageal echocardiography. A PFO was present in 8 (19%) of the 43 patients. 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 factor 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 had risk factors, with 18 having two or more. Seven patients were in atrial fibrillation. Of the 28 patients in sinus rhythm, risk factors were present in 22 (78%).