MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH PATENT FORMANE OVALE AND CRYPTOGENIC STROKE: A COLLABORATIVE MULTIDISCIPLINARY, POSITION PAPER

OBJECTIVES: To organize a common approach on the management of patent foramen ovale and cryptogenic stroke that may be shared by different specialists. BACKGROUND: The management of patent foramen ovale related to cryptogenic stroke is controversial, despite an increase in interventional closure procedures. METHODS: A consensus statement was developed by approaching Italian national cardiological, neurological and hematological scientific societies. Task force members were identified by the president and/or the boards of each relevant scientific society or working group, as appropriate. Drafts were outlined by specific task force working groups. In order to obtain a widespread consensus, these drafts were merged and distributed to the scientific societies for local evaluation and revision by as many experts as possible. The ensuing final draft, merging all the revisions, was reviewed by the task force and finally approved by scientific societies. RESULTS: Definitions of transient ischemic attack and both symptomatic and asymptomatic cryptogenic strokes were specified. A diagnostic workout was identified for patients with candidate event(s) and patient foramen ovale in order to define the probable pathogenesis of clinical events and to describe individual PFO characteristics. Further recommendations were provided regarding medical and interventional therapy considering individual risk factors of recurrence. Finally, follow up evaluation was appraised. CONCLUSIONS: Available data provided the basis for a shared approach to management of cryptogenic ischemic cerebral events and patent foramen ovale among different Italian scientific societies. Wider international initiatives on the topic are awaited