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Risk of patent foramen ovale for thromboembolic events in all age groups

M A de Belder1, L Tourikis, G Leech

  • 1Department of Cardiological Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, Tooting, London, United Kingdom.

The American Journal of Cardiology
|May 15, 1992
PubMed

Insights

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is linked to thromboembolic events, especially in patients without other risk factors. Echocardiography revealed PFO in 26% of patients with events and no risk factors, versus 3.2% in controls.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a potential risk factor for thromboembolic events.
  • Previous studies suggest a PFO may be present in 20-35% of the general population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between PFO and thromboembolic events in patients.
  • To compare PFO prevalence in patients with and without recognized risk factors for thromboembolism.

Main Methods:

  • 104 patients with stroke, TIA, or peripheral artery embolus underwent contrast echocardiography.
  • 94 control patients without thromboembolic events also underwent echocardiography.
  • Precordial and transesophageal contrast echocardiography were used for PFO detection.

Main Results:

  • A PFO was detected in 22 patients (21% of group I).
  • PFO prevalence was 26% in patients with events and no risk factors (group Ia), 14% in patients with events and risk factors (group Ib), and 3.2% in controls (group II).
  • The odds of PFO were significantly higher in group Ia versus group II (10:1) and group Ib versus group II (5:1).

Conclusions:

  • PFO is significantly associated with thromboembolic events, particularly in patients without other identifiable risk factors.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering PFO in the etiological workup of thromboembolic events.
  • Lower-than-expected PFO prevalence may be due to patient selection or limitations in echocardiographic detection.

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