Volume 82, Issue 1 pp. E38-E51
E-ONLY: Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Management of patients with patent foramen ovale and cryptogenic stroke: A collaborative, multidisciplinary, position paper

Christian Pristipino MD

Corresponding Author

Christian Pristipino MD

Clinical Research Centre and Cardiovascular Department, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Roma, Italy

Correspondence to: Christian Pristipino, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Via Alessandro Poerio 140, 00152 Rome, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
Gian Paolo Anzola MD

Gian Paolo Anzola MD

Service of Neurology, S. Orsola Hospital FP, Brescia, Italy

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Luigi Ballerini MD

Luigi Ballerini MD

Women and Children Department, S. Carlo Hospital, Potenza, Italy

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Antonio Bartorelli MD

Antonio Bartorelli MD

Interventional Cardiology Area, Monzino Cardiology Centre, Milano, Italy

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Moreno Cecconi MD

Moreno Cecconi MD

Cardiological, Medical and Surgical Sciences Department, University United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy

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Massimo Chessa MD

Massimo Chessa MD

Pediatric Cardiology and Adult with Congenital Heart Disease Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Italy

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Andrea Donti MD

Andrea Donti MD

Pediatric and Developmental Age Cardiology—Bologna University—S. Orsola Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy

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Achille Gaspardone MD

Achille Gaspardone MD

Cardiology Department, Sant'Eugenio Hospital, Roma, Italy

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Giuseppe Neri MD

Giuseppe Neri MD

S. Filippo Neri Hospital, Roma, Italy

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Eustaquio Onorato MD

Eustaquio Onorato MD

Cardiology Department, Tor Vergata University, Roma, Italy

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Gualtiero Palareti MD

Gualtiero Palareti MD

Angiology and Coagulation Disorders Unit—S.Orsola Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy

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Serena Rakar MD

Serena Rakar MD

Cardiology Department, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste, Italy

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Gianluca Rigatelli MD, PhD

Gianluca Rigatelli MD, PhD

Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Endoluminal Interventions Department, Rovigo General Hospital, Rovigo, Italy

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Gennaro Santoro MD

Gennaro Santoro MD

Cardiology and Vessel Department, Careggi Hospital, Firenze, Italy

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Danilo Toni MD

Danilo Toni MD

Neurology and Psychiatry Department, Sapienza University, Roma, Italy

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Gian Paolo Ussia MD

Gian Paolo Ussia MD

Invasive Cardiology Unit, Ferrarotto Hospital, Catania University, Catania, Italy

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Roberto Violini MD

Roberto Violini MD

Interventional Cardiology Unit, San Camillo Hospital, Roma, Italy

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on behalf of: Italian Society of Invasive Cardiology (SICI-GISE)

Italian Society of Invasive Cardiology (SICI-GISE)

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Italian Stroke Association (ISA-AIS)

Italian Stroke Association (ISA-AIS)

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Italian Association of Hospital Neurologists, Neuroradiologists, Neurosurgeons (SNO)

Italian Association of Hospital Neurologists, Neuroradiologists, Neurosurgeons (SNO)

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Congenital Heart Disease Study Group of Italian Society Of Cardiology

Congenital Heart Disease Study Group of Italian Society Of Cardiology

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Italian Association Of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO)

Italian Association Of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO)

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Italian Society Of Pediatric Cardiology (SICP)

Italian Society Of Pediatric Cardiology (SICP)

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Italian Society of Cardiovascular Echography (SIEC)

Italian Society of Cardiovascular Echography (SIEC)

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Italian Society of Hemostasis and Thrombosis (SISET)

Italian Society of Hemostasis and Thrombosis (SISET)

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First published: 31 August 2012
Citations: 20

Position statement by the Italian Society of Invasive Cardiology (SICI-GISE); Italian Stroke Association (ISA-AIS); Italian Association of Hospital Neurologists, Neuroradiologists, Neurosurgeons (SNO); Congenital Heart Disease Study Group of Italian Society Of Cardiology; Italian Association Of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO); Italian Society Of Pediatric Cardiology (SICP); Italian Society of Cardiovascular Echography (SIEC); Italian Society of Hemostasis and Thrombosis (SISET)

Conflict of interest: Massimo Chessa has a proctorship contract with AGA medical, St Jude Medical, Gore, and Cardia. Andrea Donti has a proctorship contract with AGA medical. Achille Gaspardone has a proctorship contract with NMT Medical, Boston, MA (BioSTAR device) and is investigator of BRAVO (A PROSPECTIVE, MULTI-CENTRE, REGISTRY FOR EVALUATION OF THE BioSTAR® SEPTAL REPAIR IMPLANT FOR THE CLOSURE OF PATENT FORAMEN OVALE) Eustaquio Onorato is the principle investigator of INTUIRE (IN-TUNNEL PFO CLOSURE ITALIAN REGISTRY) concerning Coherex FlatStent EF (Coherex Medical) and has proctorship contract with Occlutech Italy. Gianluca Rigatelli has a consultant/proctor contract with St Jude Medical Italy Gennaro Santoro has a proctorship contract with AGA medical. Vittorio Ambrosini received honoraria for being a guest speaker in Occlutech sponsored symposia.

Abstract

Objectives: To organize a common approach on the management of patent foramen ovale (PFO) and cryptogenic stroke that may be shared by different specialists. Background: The management of PFO 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. 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 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 PFO among different Italian scientific societies. Wider international initiatives on the topic are awaited. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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