| Title: |
Decrease in shunt volume in patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale |
| Authors: |
Tanislav, Christian; Kaps, Manfred; Jauss, Marek; Stolz, Erwin; Pabst, Wolfgang; Nedelmann, Max; Grebe, Mathias; Reichenberger, Frank; Allendoerfer, Jens |
| Publisher Information: |
BioMed Central Ltd. |
| Publication Year: |
2010 |
| Collection: |
BioMed Central |
| Description: |
Background In patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) there is evidence supporting the hypothesis of a change in right-to-left shunt (RLS) over time. Proven, this could have implications for the care of patients with PFO and a history of stroke. The following study addressed this hypothesis in a cohort of patients with stroke and PFO. Methods The RLS volume assessed during hospitalisation for stroke (index event/T0) was compared with the RLS volume on follow-up (T1) (median time between T0 and T1 was 10 months). In 102 patients with a history of stroke and PFO the RLS volume was re-assessed on follow-up using contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler/duplex (ce-TCD) ultrasound. A change in RLS volume was defined as a difference of ≥20 microembolic signals (MES) or no evidence of RLS during ce-TCD ultrasound on follow-up. Results There was evidence of a marked reduction in RLS volume in 31/102 patients; in 14/31 patients a PFO was no longer detectable. An index event classified as cryptogenic stroke (P < 0.001; OD = 39.2, 95% confidence interval 6.0 to 258.2) and the time interval to the follow-up visit (P = 0.03) were independently associated with a change in RLS volume over time. Conclusions RLS volume across a PFO decreases over time, especially in patients with cryptogenic stroke. These may determine the development of new strategies for the management in the secondary stroke prevention. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2377/10/123 |
| Availability: |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2377/10/123 |
| Rights: |
Copyright 2010 Tanislav et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.F3CB1B35 |
| Database: |
BASE |