RSS Feeds
Primary Patent Foramen Ovale Closure To Relieve Severe Migraine
- Gianluca Rigatelli, MD;
- Gabriele Braggion, MD;
- Silvio Aggio, MD;
- Mauro Chinaglia, MD; and
- Paolo Cardaioli, MD
- From Rovigo General Hospital, 38100 Rovigo, Italy.
TO THE EDITOR:
Background: Migraine headaches are highly prevalent in the general population and account for significant morbidity, lost productivity, health care visits, and dollars spent. The prevalence of migraine headaches is higher in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO), which causes paradoxical embolism and cryptogenic stroke, than in the general population (1). Previous studies have suggested that closure of the PFO may reduce or resolve migraine symptoms (2, 3). Currently, percutaneous transcatheter closure of PFO is reserved for patients with recurrent migraine headaches who have a history of stroke (3, 4).
Objective: To assess possible indications for and results of transcatheter PFO closure in patients with severe, disabling migraine headaches and no history of stroke.
Methods and Findings: Our cohort consisted of 10 patients (8 women …
