Characterization of blood flow through intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses and patent foramen ovale at rest and during exercise in stroke and transient ischemic attack patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 676-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rinaldo Romac ◽  
Otto Barak ◽  
Duska Glavas ◽  
Zora Susilovic Grabovac ◽  
Petar Lozo ◽  
...  
Stroke ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. 3135-3140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Sagris ◽  
Georgios Georgiopoulos ◽  
Kalliopi Perlepe ◽  
Konstantinos Pateras ◽  
Eleni Korompoki ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose— It is unclear whether treatment with anticoagulants or antiplatelets is the optimal strategy in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack of undetermined cause and patent foramen ovale that is not percutaneously closed. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment in this population. Methods— We searched PubMed until July 16, 2019 for trials comparing anticoagulants and antiplatelet treatment in patients with stroke/transient ischemic attack and medically treated patent foramen ovale using the terms: “cryptogenic or embolic stroke of undetermined source” and “stroke or cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack” and “patent foramen ovale or patent foramen ovale or paradoxical embolism” and “trial or study” and “antithrombotic or anticoagulant or antiplatelet.” The outcomes assessed were stroke recurrence, major bleeding, and the composite end point of stroke recurrence or major bleeding. We used 3 random-effects models: (1) a reference model based on the inverse variance method with the Sidik and Jonkman heterogeneity estimator; (2) a strict model, implementing the Hartung and Knapp method; and (3) a commonly used Bayesian model with a prior that assumes moderate to large between-study variance. Results— Among 112 articles identified in the literature search, 5 randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis (1720 patients, mean follow-up 2.3±0.5 years). Stroke recurrence occurred at a rate of 1.73 per 100 patient-years in anticoagulant-assigned patients and 2.39 in antiplatelet-assigned patients (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.32–1.48 for the Sidik and Jonkman estimator). Major bleeding occurred at a rate of 1.16 per 100 patient-years in anticoagulant-assigned patients and 0.68 in antiplatelet-assigned patients (hazard ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 0.72–3.59 for the Sidik and Jonkman estimator). The composite outcome occurred in 52 anticoagulant-assigned and 54 antiplatelet-assigned patients (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.65–1.70 for the Sidik and Jonkman estimator). Conclusions— We cannot exclude a large reduction of stroke recurrence in anticoagulant-assigned patients compared with antiplatelet-assigned, without significant differences in major bleeding. An adequately powered randomized controlled trial of a non–vitamin K antagonist versus aspirin is warranted.


2009 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sachin S. Goel ◽  
E. Murat Tuzcu ◽  
Mehdi H. Shishehbor ◽  
Eduardo I. de Oliveira ◽  
Przemyslaw P. Borek ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Agnete Teivāne ◽  
Kristaps Jurjāns ◽  
Ainārs Rudzītis ◽  
Krista Lazdovska ◽  
Artūrs Balodis ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: According to guidelines, patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is recommended for secondary stroke prevention in patients with cryptogenic stroke. Paradoxial embolism from PFO-mediated right to left shunt has been described as the mechanism of stroke in these cases. The aim of the study was to determine whether PFO closure can be associated with improvement of complaints (headaches, fatigue, heart palpitations, dizziness, and visual impairment) and determine its long-term effectiveness on recurrent stroke risk reduction. Materials and Methods: A total of 103 patients were enrolled in a retrospective study and followed-up by phone up to five years after PFO closure. Standardized survey was conducted about their well-being, recurrent cerebrovascular events, and the use of prescribed medication. Patients were also followed up for residual shunts 24 h, 30 days, 1 year, and 2 years after PFO. The pathogenic ischemic stroke subtypes are determined using CCS (Causative Classification System for Ischemic Stroke). Results: Male patients accounted for 43.7% (n = 45). The mean age was—44.4 ± 13 (18–75). The most probable cause for cryptogenic stroke for 53.4% (n = 55) of patients with possible cardio-aortic embolism was PFO. Residual shunts were mostly observed in patients with Amplatzer occluder—87.5% (n = 14). There was correlation between residual shunt and increased risk of transient ischemic attack recurrence (p = 0.067). Five-years after PFO closure recurrent cerebrovascular events were reported in only 5.1% (n = 5) of patients, this difference is statistically relevant (p < 0.001). Out of 51 patients presented with complaints before PFO closure, 25.5% (n = 13) did not present with any complaints after PFO closure. Conclusions: PFO can be considered a possible risk factor for cryptogenic stroke. PFO closure is effective in reducing recurrent cerebrovascular events. Residual shunt after PFO closure increases the risk of transient ischemic attack recurrence. Amplatzer occluder device is associated with a higher risk for residual shunts after PFO closure. PFO closure can be associated with improvement of complaints.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Dominika M. Zoltowska ◽  
Guramrinder Thind ◽  
Yashwant Agrawal ◽  
Vishal Gupta ◽  
Jagadeesh Kumar Kalavakunta

May-Thurner syndrome is an underrecognized anatomical variant that can lead to increased propensity for venous thrombosis in the lower extremities. We present a case of a 67-year-old female who presented with transient ischemic attack. Initial workup including CT scan of the head, MRI scan of the head, and magnetic resonance angiogram of the head and neck was unremarkable. A transthoracic echocardiogram with bubble study was also normal. Subsequently, a transesophageal echocardiogram was performed that revealed a patent foramen ovale with right-to-left shunt. Lower extremity duplex venous ultrasound showed no evidence of deep vein thrombosis. However, magnetic resonance venogram of the pelvis showed compression of the left common iliac vein just after its origin suggestive of May-Thurner syndrome. Hence, May-Thurner syndrome was recognized as the probable source of paradoxical embolism causing transient ischemic attack in this patient.


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