PFO Basics

What is a PFO

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a small opening in the wall of the heart that separates the two upper chambers or atria. It is due to a persistence of the fetal circulation where a flap-like opening does not close as it normally should after birth. It is very common to have a PFO and is found in approximately 20% of the adult population. This flap-like valve enables shunting (abnormal mixture of blood between the right and left sides of the heart), which is often dynamic and of variable degree...

PFO Facts

Here are some facts you might have not known about PFO.

PFO and Stroke

Stroke is currently the leading cause of disability(1) and is projected to pass heart attacks as the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Approximately 40% of all strokes are classified as cryptogenic — meaning that the cause is unknown despite an extensive work up. While patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common and generally benign condition found on autopsy in 25% of the population, approximately 40% to 50% of patients younger than age 55 with cryptogenic stroke (CS) have PFO on...

PFO and Migraine

Migraine headache is a public health problem of enormous scope that has an impact on both the individual sufferer and on society. In the United States, three large population studies have established the prevalence of migraine at 18% in women and 6% in men. ^{1, 2, 3} In the American Migraine Study II, 92% of women and 89% of men with severe migraine experienced significant headache related disability.

The biogenesis of migraine headache disorders has yet to be elucidated. The...