What is it about?

There is an association of patent foramen ovale (PFO) and migraine with aura. Open series have shown, that migraine attacks decrease after PFO closure. This study addresses this question in a randomized controlled trial. The trial does not confirm a treatment effect, however, post hoc analyses showed a decrease of migraine attacks and migraine days in patients who experienced in more than 50% of there attacks an aura preceding the attack. This needs to be confirmed in a future trial before PFO closure can be recommended for migraine prevention.

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Why is it important?

Randomized controlled trial to investigate the role of PFO closure in patients with migraine with aura

Perspectives

This trial sheds light into a highly controversial topic of the association of migraine and PFO. The trial does not confirm a therapeutic effect. However, post hoc analyses showed a decrease of migraine attacks and migraine days in patients who experienced in more than 50% of their attacks a preceding aura. This means, that a subgroup of migraine patients might derive a benefit from PFO closure, but this needs to be confirmed in a further trial.

Professor Heinrich P Mattle
University Hospital Bern

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale in migraine with aura, a randomized controlled trial, European Heart Journal, February 2016, European Society of Cardiology,
DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehw027.
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