BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a frequent finding in young patients with stroke. The aim of this study was to assess whether PFO is a family trait. METHODS: Sixty-two consecutive patients younger than 60 years of age with ischemic stroke and 62 age and gender-matched control siblings were examined by means of contrast transcranial Doppler (TCD) of the middle cerebral artery, using a standardized protocol. The reliability of TCD examination in our laboratory was assessed against transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). All TCD recordings were reviewed by a blinded experienced observer from another center. Disagreements between readers were resolved by unblinded consensus review. RESULTS: Siblings of patients with PFO had a significantly higher prevalence of PFO than had siblings of patients without PFO (61.5% versus 30.6%; OR 3.64 [1.3 to 10.5]; P=0.015). The kappa statistics indicated that agreement of pairs (patients/control siblings) was not due to chance. The strength of the association was sex dependent. In women pairs, prevalence of a PFO was 76.5% in siblings of patients with PFO and 25% in siblings of patients without PFO, giving an OR of 9.8 (95% CI 2 to 47.9; P<0.01). In contrast, in men, no significant difference was observed in the prevalence of PFO between siblings of patients with or without PFO (respectively 33.3% and 35%), giving an OR of 0.9 (95% CI 0.2 to 4.9; P=0.9). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that, in women, PFO is a family trait.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a frequent finding in young patients with stroke. The aim of this study was to assess whether PFO is a family trait. METHODS: Sixty-two consecutive patients younger than 60 years of age with ischemic stroke and 62 age and gender-matched control siblings were examined by means of contrast transcranial Doppler (TCD) of the middle cerebral artery, using a standardized protocol. The reliability of TCD examination in our laboratory was assessed against transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). All TCD recordings were reviewed by a blinded experienced observer from another center. Disagreements between readers were resolved by unblinded consensus review. RESULTS: Siblings of patients with PFO had a significantly higher prevalence of PFO than had siblings of patients without PFO (61.5% versus 30.6%; OR 3.64 [1.3 to 10.5]; P=0.015). The kappa statistics indicated that agreement of pairs (patients/control siblings) was not due to chance. The strength of the association was sex dependent. In women pairs, prevalence of a PFO was 76.5% in siblings of patients with PFO and 25% in siblings of patients without PFO, giving an OR of 9.8 (95% CI 2 to 47.9; P<0.01). In contrast, in men, no significant difference was observed in the prevalence of PFO between siblings of patients with or without PFO (respectively 33.3% and 35%), giving an OR of 0.9 (95% CI 0.2 to 4.9; P=0.9). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that, in women, PFO is a family trait.
Authors: Hille Koppen; Inge H Palm-Meinders; Werner H Mess; Ruud W Keunen; Gisela M Terwindt; Lenore J Launer; Mark A van Buchem; Mark C Kruit; Michel D Ferrari Journal: Neurology Date: 2016-03-11 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Mahdi Moradi Marjaneh; Edwin P Kirk; Maximilian G Posch; Cemil Ozcelik; Felix Berger; Roland Hetzer; Robyn Otway; Tanya L Butler; Gillian M Blue; Lyn R Griffiths; Diane Fatkin; Jeremy J Martinson; David S Winlaw; Michael P Feneley; Richard P Harvey Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-06-06 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Maximilian G Posch; Michael Gramlich; Margaret Sunde; Katharina R Schmitt; Stella H Y Lee; Silke Richter; Andrea Kersten; Andreas Perrot; Anna N Panek; Iman H Al Khatib; Georges Nemer; André Mégarbané; Rainer Dietz; Brigitte Stiller; Felix Berger; Richard P Harvey; Cemil Ozcelik Journal: J Med Genet Date: 2009-09-16 Impact factor: 6.318