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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
Published on: August 18, 2015
Cardioembolic stroke: who is the guilty?
Giampiero Gaio1, Giuseppe Santoro, Maria T Palladino
1Department of Cardiology, A.O. Monaldi, 2nd University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Insights
A patent foramen ovale can cause stroke, but a thorough workup is crucial. This case highlights an arteriovenous malformation as another cause of paradoxical embolism, emphasizing comprehensive diagnostics for cryptogenic strokes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a potential cause of cryptogenic stroke.
- Paradoxical embolism occurs when a clot travels from the venous to the arterial system, often through a PFO.
- Thorough diagnostic workup is essential to identify all potential embolic sources.
Abstract:
A young woman was referred following a transient ischemic attack due to suspect patent foramen ovale. At the diagnostic workup a spontaneous mild right-to-left atrial shunt owing to fenestrated aneurysmal septum was found. However, also a large arteriovenous malformation of the left lung was also imaged. At interventional cardiac catheterization, both malformations were closed using an Amplatzer Cribriform occluding device and a Amplatzer Vascular Plug II, respectively. In conclusion, patent foramen ovale is just one of the potential causes of cardioembolic stroke and a thorough diagnostic workup is mandatory after a cryptogenic stroke to rule out any additional source of paradoxical embolism.
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