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STROKE

Patent foramen ovale increases stroke risk in older people

Nature Reviews Neurology volume 14, pages 573–574 (2018)Cite this article

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Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is prevalent among young patients with cryptogenic stroke, and PFO closure reduces the risk of recurrent stroke in these individuals. A new study confirms that PFO is also frequent in patients with cryptogenic stroke aged >60 years, but the optimal management of such patients remains unresolved.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Heinrich P. Mattle

  2. Comprehensive Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Jeffrey L. Saver

Authors
  1. Heinrich P. Mattle
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  2. Jeffrey L. Saver
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heinrich P. Mattle.

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Competing interests

H.P.M. was the principal neurology investigator of the PC Trial of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure versus medical therapy for cryptogenic stroke. J.L.S. was the principal investigator of the RESPECT Trial of PFO closure versus medical therapy for cryptogenic stroke.

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Mattle, H.P., Saver, J.L. Patent foramen ovale increases stroke risk in older people. Nat Rev Neurol 14, 573–574 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-018-0050-7

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