Five-year outcomes of the randomized REDUCE study showed a continuous benefit from patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure compared with antiplatelet agents to prevent cryptogenic strokes. The most important aspect of this result seems to be the idea that PFO closure in selected patients offers durable benefit with guaranteed long-term safety. The original results from REDUCE…
DEFENSE-PFO: High Risk PFO Closure Reduces Combined Events and Stroke Risk
High risk patent foramen ovale closure PFO resulted in reduced stroke, vascular death and bleeding risk. Recent reports have shown a favorable role of PFO in patients with cryptogenic stroke, though with some unclear results, which immediately raised the questions: Who are the optimal candidates for this procedure, and who will see no benefit? …
Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale for the Treatment of Migraine
Migraine is one of the more frequent disabling disorders worldwide, but its physiopathology remains unclear. Since migraine is quite heterogeneous, individual therapies may not be effective for all patients. We still lack strategies to help us predict which patient subset might respond best to certain therapies. Read also: “Amplatzer and Figulla Devices Prove to Be…