Comparison of atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale in cryptogenic strokes.

OBJECTIVES: Paradoxical embolism from right-to-left shunt through atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a well-accepted cause of "cryptogenic" strokes (CS). To better understand the pathogenic role of ASD, we compared ASD patients with CS having a high and low likelihood of being PFO-related.

METHODS: In the Acute Stroke Registry and Analysis of Lausanne, we calculated prevalence of PFO and ASD in CS patients undergoing echocardiography, and calculated odds ratios (OR) when compared to non-CS. Using the Risk of Paradoxical Embolism (RoPE) score, we divided CS PFO patients in high (HL-PFO, RoPE 8-10) and low-likelihood (LL-PFO, RoPE 0-4) PFO-related stroke. We then performed univariate comparison of epidemiological, clinical and radiological variables of ASD patients with both PFO groups.

RESULTS: Among all CS, prevalence of ASD and PFO were 1.3% and 36.8% respectively. When compared to non-CS, ASD and PFO were associated with CS (OR of 5.2, CI= 1.6-16.6, and 2.8, CI= 2.1-3.8). Compared with HL-PFO, ASD patients were older, more often female, had more cardiovascular risk factors and silent strokes. Compared with LL-PFO, ASD patients were younger, more often female, and had less risk factors. No differences were found for clinical and radiological characteristics and clinical outcome.

CONCLUSION: ASD is a rare stroke risk factor for CS. Since characteristics of such patients lie in-between high and low-likelihood paradoxical PFO-strokes, a thorough work-up for other stroke mechanisms is warranted. Individual evaluation of the likelihood of the ASD being causative for stroke may be preferable over routine ASD closure.