Closure of a patent foramen ovale is associated with a decrease in prevalence of migraine

Abstract

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is one of the major causes of right-to-left shunt, and a causal relationship between migraine and a PFO has been suggested.1 We evaluated whether percutaneous closure of a PFO was associated with changes in the prevalence of migraine. ### Patient selection. Patients with a PFO who had a paradoxical embolic event or systemic desaturation and who underwent a percutaneous closure in our center between February 1999 and September 2002 were included. The medical files were reviewed. The ethical committee approved the study. ### Evaluation of migraine. A questionnaire was composed in such a way that a neurologist could diagnose migraine with or without aura (MA+ and MA−) according to the criteria of the International Headache Society. The questionnaire was sent to all patients and focused on three periods: 1 year before and 2 months and at least 6 months after percutaneous closure. Two neurologists blinded to the patients’ files diagnosed MA+ …