Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation after Percutaneous Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale and Small Atrial Septal Defects in Patients Presenting with Cryptogenic Stroke

Abstract

Our findings indicate that patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale have a rather high incidence of AF during a follow-up of 12 months. Atrial fibrillation occurred with a similar frequency whether the patent foramen ovale/atrial septal defect was successfully percutaneously closed or was medically managed. The presence of a large patent foramen ovale was the only significant predictor of AF occurrence during follow-up.