Atherosclerotic Burden Findings in Young Cryptogenic Stroke Patients With and Without a Patent Foramen Ovale

Abstract

In patients <or=55 years old diagnosed with cryptogenic stroke/transient ischemic attack, the presence of PFO was associated with a lower atherosclerotic burden as measured by carotid intima media thickness and endothelial function with no differences compared with a control group without cerebrovascular event. These results suggest that an atherosclerotic-mediated mechanism may be involved in cryptogenic stroke/transient ischemic attack in patients without PFO, whereas a nonatherosclerotic mechanism may mediate the cerebrovascular event in the presence of PFO.