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Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO): An Intervention Sequence
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Clinical implications of patent foramen ovale in migraine with aura

Pasquale Marchione1, Natascia Ghiotto, Grazia Sances

  • 1Neurovascular Unit, Department of Neurology and Otorhinolaringology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.

Functional Neurology
|April 1, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is more common in migraine with aura (MWA) patients, especially those with atypical aura features. This finding suggests PFO screening may be beneficial for MWA patients with unusual symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is frequently observed in patients experiencing migraine with aura (MWA).
  • The specific relationship between PFO and the characteristics of aura symptoms, as well as its impact on stroke risk, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and the specific features of aura in patients diagnosed with migraine with aura (MWA).
  • To assess the relative impact of the PFO-MWA association on stroke risk.

Main Methods:

  • Patients diagnosed with MWA were enrolled and assessed for PFO using contrast transcranial Doppler and transoesophageal echocardiography.
  • Participants were categorized into two groups based on aura characteristics: typical (Group 1) and atypical (Group 2).

Main Results:

  • A significantly higher prevalence of PFO was observed in patients with atypical aura features (79.2%) compared to those with typical aura features (46.3%) (p=0.009).
  • No significant differences were found in the prevalence of traditional stroke risk factors or thrombophilic markers between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights the importance of screening for PFO in MWA patients, particularly those presenting with atypical aura symptoms.
  • The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms connecting PFO and atypical aura features remain unclear and warrant further research.

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