Patent Foramen Ovale in Young Patients with Ischemic Stroke

INTRODUCTION: The foramen ovale is a hole in the interatrial septum in prenatal period, which is closed after birth with the increase of left atrium pressure. If it does not close, stroke due to parodoxically embolism, local thrombosis, arrhythmia and hypercoagulability can be seen. In this article, the frequency of patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal aneurysm (ASA), treatment approaches and follow-up results have been reported in young stroke patients. METHODS: The files of 163 young stroke patients between 18 and 45 years of age who were followed up at our clinic were reviewed retrospectively. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed PFO in 2 patients, ASA in 2 patients. Transeosophageal echocardiography (TEE) reported PFO in 5 patients. Age, gender, premorbid disease and antiaggregant-anticoagulant medical theraphy, routine tests, imaging, TTE and TEE findings, treatment protocols, stroke recurrence were recorded. RESULTS: PFO was detected in 5 of 163 young stroke patients (3.06%) (3K, 2E). The average age was 30.2 (18-42). One patient had transient ischemic attack and 4 patients had stroke. There was a 1 patient has a previous stroke and 2 patients were smokers. Carotis stenosis was not detected in patients. ANA was positive in recurrent stroke patient, another patient had recurrent abortion, heterozygote mutation of FVL, MTHFR C677T and A1298C and hyperhomocysteinemia. One patient had PFO and no other pathological result for etiological investigation. Endovascular closure was performed in 2 patients. 2 patients were treated with acetylsalicylic acid and 2 patients were treated with warfarin. No recurrent stroke was seen in 3-5 year follow-ups. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: PFO investigation in young patients should be perform as a medical and surgically treatable factor against the risk of recurrence. In addition to the cryptogenic case, it is emphasized in all young stroke patients that TTE and TTE should be performed even in the presence of a known risk factor