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The association between patent foramen ovale and unexplained syncope in pediatric patients

Runmei Zou1, Shuo Wang2, Ping Liu1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Cardiovasology, Children's Medical Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Renmin Middle Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.

Italian Journal of Pediatrics
|January 7, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) may not increase syncope risk in children. This study found no significant association between PFO and syncope in pediatric patients, suggesting further research is needed.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is linked to stroke and syncope in adults.
  • PFO closure reduces recurrent cerebral events and syncope in adults.
  • The association between PFO and syncope in pediatric patients remains uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and unexplained syncope in pediatric patients.
  • To determine if PFO increases the risk of syncope in children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 1001 pediatric patients (4-17 years) hospitalized for unexplained syncope, headache, dizziness, chest pain, or palpitation.
  • Exclusion of children with known causes of syncope or other systemic diseases.
  • Transthoracic echocardiography and contrast echocardiography to detect PFO and right-to-left shunting.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in PFO incidence across syncope, headache/dizziness, chest pain, and palpitation groups (4.71%–6.17%).
  • Multivariate logistic regression indicated PFO is not associated with an increased risk of syncope (P=0.081).

Conclusions:

  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO) may not be a significant risk factor for syncope in pediatric patients.
  • Further large-scale, multicenter studies are warranted to confirm the association between PFO and unexplained pediatric syncope.
Abstract

Keywords:
EchocardiographyPatent foramen ovalePediatric patientsUnexplained syncope

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