ESOWSO 2020: PFO-Prognosis

PI Sara Mazzucco interviewed by Marie-Luise Mono at #ESOWSO2020

In a meta-analysis, Dr Sara Mazzuco from Oxford University found that Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) was associated with an excess risk of recurrent stroke in the older age group (65 years and older) diagnosed with cryptogenic TIA/stroke on medication alone (OR=2.26, 95%CI=1.36-3.75, p=0.02).
Larger PFO was associated with an increased risk of stroke recurrence in both the OXVASC cohort (OR=2.87; 1.05-7.87) and in the pooled analysis of 2 inclusive cohorts (OR=2.32; 1.22-4.43) but not in an analysis of 4 highly-selected cohorts (OR= 1.12; 0.64-1.97).
Her findings suggest that evaluation of large PFO closure in older patients with cryptogenic TIA/stroke might be warranted.

[MT-swrf]

Frau Mono needs to work on her English, and not just the pronunciation.

About the PFO - with or without septum aneurysm?
It has been known for quite a while, that PFO + septum aneurysm are a risk factor for Strokes. As well as for paradoxical embolism.
So what exactly is NEW here?
Why do you call them cryptogenic strokes if the involvement of the PFO points towards a cardioembolic stroke??
Overall waste of time and research subsidiaries.
And generally speaking parade of the narcissists, one being grandiose and the other one decompensated manipulative.
Waste of time and money indeed.