PFO closure with investigational device may prevent cryptogenic ischemic stroke

News-medical: October 26, 2012

A clinical trial indicates that using an investigational medical device to close a PFO, or “hole in the heart,” may be superior to medical management alone in the prevention of a repeated stroke. Results of the RESPECT trial were presented today at the 24th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world’s premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.

A PFO (patent foramen ovale) is a flap-like opening between the left and right upper chambers (atria) of the heart, which typically fuses shut after birth. In approximately one in four people, the opening does not fuse shut and in some cases, a blood clot may pass through the PFO and potentially travel to the brain causing an ischemic stroke. It is estimated that PFO rates are three times higher in the patient population with cryptogenic stroke, or stroke without an overt source. However, to date, no randomized clinical trial has demonstrated superiority of PFO closure over standard medical therapy for secondary stroke prevention, despite there being observational data suggesting a possible benefit. Read more