Meta-Analysis Comparing Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Versus Medical Therapy to Prevent Recurrent Cryptogenic Stroke

New evidence suggests that closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) plus medical therapy (MT; antiplatelet or anticoagulation) is superior to MT alone to prevent recurrent cryptogenic stroke. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared PFO closure plus MT with MT alone in patients with cryptogenic stroke. The efficacy end points were recurrent stroke, transient ischemia attack, and death. The safety end points were major bleeding and newly detected atrial fibrillation.

Source: The American Journal of Cardiology - December 11, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Tomo Ando, Anthony A. Holmes, Mohit Pahuja, Arshad Javed, Alenxandros Briasoulis, Tesfaye Telila, Hisato Takagi, Theodore Schreiber, Luis Afonso, Cindy L. Grines, Sripal Bangalore Source Type: research