Secondary stroke prevention: patent foramen ovale, aortic plaque, and carotid stenosis

Meier, Bernhard; Frank, Benedikt; Wahl, Andreas; Diener, Hans C (2012). Secondary stroke prevention: patent foramen ovale, aortic plaque, and carotid stenosis. European Heart Journal, 33(6), 705-13, 713a, 713b. Oxford: Oxford University Press 10.1093/eurheartj/ehr443

Preview

Text ehr443.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial (CC-BY-NC). Download (475kB) | Preview

Stroke is the most debilitating cardiovascular event. It has a variety of causes that may be present simultaneously. In young or otherwise healthy people, the search for a patent foramen ovale (PFO) has become standard. In stroke of the elderly, atherosclerosis and atrial fibrillation are in the foreground but the PFO should not be ignored. The risk of a PFO-related stroke over time is controversial and so is its prevention by device closure. The association of proximal aortic plaques in arteries subtending the brain and stroke is considered strong, ignoring that it is as putative as that of the PFO. Statins can prevent progression of such plaques. Antiplatelet agents in asymptomatic and surgical endarterectomy in symptomatic patients or highly ulcerated lesions are the treatment of choice. Stenting with protection devices was shown competitive in selected patients.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

155 since deposited on 04 Oct 2013
10 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item