Patent foramen ovale: echocardiographic detection and clinical relevance in stroke.

This article reviews the main clinical aspects of patent foramen ovale (PFO), such as its prevalence in the population, the diagnostic techniques to detect its presence, its role as a risk factor for ischemic stroke of otherwise unexplained origin, and its controversial association with migraine. Some cofactors possibly involved in the association between PFO and stroke are discussed, along with the various therapeutic options to prevent recurrent cerebral ischemic events in stroke patients with a PFO. Copyright 2010 American Society of Echocardiography. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.