Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale PFO: An Intervention Sequence
Published on: December 23, 2022
Recurrent stroke predictors differ in medically treated patients with pathogenic vs. other PFOs.
David E Thaler1, Robin Ruthazer2, Christian Weimar2
1From the Department of Neurology (D.E.T., D.M.K.) and the Predictive Analytics and Comparative Effectiveness Center, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies (R.R., J.S.L., J.G., D.M.K.), Tufts Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; the University of Duisburg-Essen (C.W.), Germany; Hôpital Sainte-Anne (J.L.-M.), Paris-Descartes University, France; the Department of Neurology (J.S.), Hospital Universitari Doctor Josep Trueta Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Girona, Spain; the Department of Public Health and Primary Care (E.D.A.), Cambridge University, UK; the Department of Cardiology (F.P.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; the Departments of Cardiology (S.H.) and Neurology and Epidemiology (M.S.V.E.) and the Division of Cardiology (M.R.D.T.), Columbia University, New York; Inselspital (H.P.M., M.-L.M.), University of Bern; the Division of Neurology (K.N.), Triemli Municipal Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; the University of Toronto (C.J.), Canada; and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (P.M.), Switzerland. dthaler@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
Predictors of stroke recurrence differ based on the Risk of Paradoxical Embolism (RoPE) score in patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale (PFO). Echocardiographic features are key in high-RoPE score patients, while age and antiplatelet therapy matter in low-RoPE score patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is associated with cryptogenic stroke (CS).
- The Risk of Paradoxical Embolism (RoPE) score helps stratify PFO-related stroke risk.
- Predictors of recurrent stroke in CS with PFO may vary by PFO likelihood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate predictors of stroke recurrence in patients with CS and PFO.
- To compare predictors between patients with high and low likelihood of PFO-related stroke based on the RoPE score.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the RoPE database including 647 patients with probable PFO-related stroke (RoPE >6) and 677 others (RoPE ≤6).
- Analyzed 15 clinical, 5 radiologic, and 3 echocardiographic variables using Cox survival models.
- Assessed interactions between predictors and RoPE score categories.
Main Results:
- Overall, index TIA was linked to higher recurrence risk.
- In the low RoPE score group, older age and antiplatelet treatment predicted recurrence.
- In the high RoPE score group, echocardiographic features (septal hypermobility, small shunt) and prior stroke/TIA predicted recurrence.
Conclusions:
- Stroke recurrence predictors are distinct in CS patients with PFO when stratified by the RoPE score.
- CS and PFO represent a heterogeneous group with varying stroke mechanisms.
- Echocardiographic findings significantly predict recurrence only in patients with a high likelihood of PFO-related stroke.
Related Concept Videos
Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

