Comparison of results of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale for paradoxical embolism in patients with versus without thrombophilia

We investigated the efficacy of transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure to prevent recurrent cerebral ischemic events in patients who did and those who did not have thrombophilia. Patients who have a PFO and an associated thrombophilia may have an increased risk of cerebral ischemic events. Seventy-two consecutive patients (mean age 42 +/- 13 years) underwent percutaneous PFO closure because of a cerebral stroke (51%) or a transient ischemic attack (49%). A thrombophilia was found in 20 patients (28%). A large right-to-left shunt through the PFO was found in 44 patients (61%) and an atrial septal aneurysm was found in 39 (54%). After the first event, 18 of 20 patients (90%) with a thrombophilia received oral anticoagulation. Before closure, patients who had a thrombophilia also had a higher rate of recurrences than patients who did not (p < 0.0001), despite a similar follow-up (p = 0.14) and regardless of shunt entity (p = 0.59), presence of an atrial septal aneurysm (p = 0.98), and a prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (p = 0.44). PFO closure was successful in all patients. Five patients (8%) had a residual shunt at 6 months. At 20 +/- 11 months after PFO closure, 3 recurrent events occurred (4%), and the recurrence rate was similar in patients who did and those who did not have a thrombophilia (p = 0.25). Thus, in patients who have a cryptogenic stroke, the association of a PFO with a thrombophilia significantly increases the risk of recurrences. Thus, transcatheter PFO closure is effective for preventing recurrences in patients who have a thrombophilia. (C) 2004 by Excerpto Medica, Inc.