Key result
Patent foramen ovale may be considered the cause of embolic stroke in older patients when other embolic sources are absent or strokes recur despite prophylactic treatment.
Highlights that PFO can be a culpable cause of embolic stroke in older patients when other sources like atrial fibrillation are ruled out.
May support PFO evaluation in older embolic stroke after AF exclusion; leaves open need for prospective trials.
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is associated with embolic stroke, particularly in younger patients. In older patients, atrial fibrillation is a more common cause of embolic stroke. A PFO may be considered culpable at higher age when other potential embolic sources are absent or after recurrent stroke despite prophylactic treatment.
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Aarli et al. (2018) studied this question. Patent foramen ovale may be considered the cause of embolic stroke in older patients when other embolic sources are absent or strokes recur despite prophylactic treatment.
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