Patent Foramen Ovale
Monday October 20, 2008
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a diagnosis that is becoming more and more common - up to 25% of adults have it. PFO is said to increase the risk of stroke, and has been implicated as a cause for migraine headaches. As a result, patients are being asked to undergo an invasive procedure to close their PFOs. But is this common echocardiographic finding really as significant as all that? Read about PFOs, their potential significance, and their treatment, here.
Comments
Interesting start to the breakdown of a patent foramen ovale yet not the entire issue is covered. With a right to left shunt issues of desaturation, high altitude, and sleep apnea are being discussed with the relationship of a PFO.
Thank-you.
Is PFO in any way related to Mitral Valve Prolapse or a Murmur?? The person with MVP has had lifelong migraines.
Since pfo is uncommonly common and when complications happen, why can’t the condition be screened for when a toddler gets shots, etc? my good (young) friend almost died this week from paradoxical embolisms due to PFO. maybe her physician could have considered the possibility since she is a very healthy, ballet dancer who had all the symptoms of dvt for 4 weeks. an echo of the heart seems like a reasonable idea.
Has anyone followed up on the migraine patients after they’ve had their PFOs closed to find out if it decreased their migraines?
How invasive is closing a PFO?
Dr. Rich reviewed the evidence rather well, although one well-done trial of PFO closure (http://headaches.about.com/od/prevention/a/mist_results.htm) was left out of the discussion. This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showed a 37% reduction in number of migraines for those who had the closure. Because of the interest in this, I believe there are now 4 ongoing trials of PFO closure with migraine.
www.headache-treatment-options.com