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Size of PFO and amount of microembolic signals in patients with ischaemic stroke or TIA |
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| Authors: | G Telman S Yalonetsky E Kouperberg E Sprecher A Lorber D Yarnitsky |
| Institution: | Department of Neurology;;Department of Cardiology, Echocardiography Laboratory;;and Pediatric Cardiology and Adults with Congenital Heart Disease Unit, Rambam Health Care Campus and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel |
| Abstract: | Background and purpose: The inter-relation between the size of patent foramen ovale (PFO) by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and the amount of microembolic signals (MES) on transcranial doppler (TCD) is still not determined. Methods: The study group comprised of 104 patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Three groups were formed according to the amount of MES on TCD: a small amount of MES (0–10 MES); a moderate amount of MES (countable MES higher than 10); and multiple MES. Results: According to TEE, there were 52 patients (50%) with a small PFO, 37 patients (35.6%) with a moderate PFO, and 15 patients (14.4%) with a large PFO. There were 48 patients (46.1%) with a small amount of MES, 34 patients (32.7%) with a moderate amount of MES, and 22 patients (21.1%) with multiple MES on TCD. A strong relationship between the size of the PFO on TEE and the amount of MES on contrast transcranial Doppler was found ( P < 0.0001), such that the larger the PFO on TEE, the greater the amount of MES on TCD. Conclusions: There is a high correlation between the size of the PFO on TEE and the amount of MES on TCD in stroke and TIA patients. |
| Keywords: | PFO stroke transcranial |