BACKGROUND: Patent foramina ovale (PFO) are small defects within the atrial septum that may play a role in paradoxical embolism, stroke and migraines. The relationship between PFO and atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been formally studied. We prospectively studied patients with a history of AF, versus those without (controls), in order to compare PFO prevalence among them. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with AF and forty-one controls completed the study, all undergoing transthoracic echocardiography using agitated saline microbubbles and a Valsalva maneuver. RESULTS: In the control group, 12/41 participants (29.2%) had PFOs compared to 5/61 (8.2%) in the AF group (P < 0.01). PFO positive patients within the entire study population demonstrated greater leftward inter-atrial septal shifting (82% vs 49%, P < 0.05). There was also reduced leftward inter-atrial septal shift observed within the AF group compared to controls (32/61 (52%) vs 31/41 (76%), P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study is the first to demonstrate an apparent lower rate of PFO in patients with AF, using bubble contrast echocardiography.
BACKGROUND:Patent foramina ovale (PFO) are small defects within the atrial septum that may play a role in paradoxical embolism, stroke and migraines. The relationship between PFO and atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been formally studied. We prospectively studied patients with a history of AF, versus those without (controls), in order to compare PFO prevalence among them. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with AF and forty-one controls completed the study, all undergoing transthoracic echocardiography using agitated saline microbubbles and a Valsalva maneuver. RESULTS: In the control group, 12/41 participants (29.2%) had PFOs compared to 5/61 (8.2%) in the AF group (P < 0.01). PFO positive patients within the entire study population demonstrated greater leftward inter-atrial septal shifting (82% vs 49%, P < 0.05). There was also reduced leftward inter-atrial septal shift observed within the AF group compared to controls (32/61 (52%) vs 31/41 (76%), P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study is the first to demonstrate an apparent lower rate of PFO in patients with AF, using bubble contrast echocardiography.
Authors: S R Ommen; R A Nishimura; C P Appleton; F A Miller; J K Oh; M M Redfield; A J Tajik Journal: Circulation Date: 2000-10-10 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: P Siostrzonek; W Lang; M Zangeneh; H Gössinger; A Stümpflen; G Rosenmayr; G Heinz; M Schwarz; K Zeiler; H Mösslacher Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 1992-05 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: Sanjay Sastry; Graham Riding; Julie Morris; David Taberner; Nicola Cherry; Anthony Heagerty; Charles McCollum Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2006-07-25 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: H Okura; Y Takada; T Kubo; K Iwata; S Mizoguchi; H Taguchi; I Toda; J Yoshikawa; K Yoshida Journal: Heart Date: 2006-01-31 Impact factor: 5.994