Case Report: Is there an age cutoff beyond which PFO closure should not be offered?

ABSTRACT:

Background

While randomized controlled trials have confirmed that patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure over medical therapy is considered the preferred treatment of young patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), the efficacy of percutaneous closure in elderly subjects with high-risk PFO remains unclear since no randomized trials are currently available.

Case summary

A 65-year-old man with a past medical history of hyperuricemia, chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease, intestinal diverticulosis, and long-lasting arterial hypertension with enlargement of the aortic root was admitted for evaluation of the sudden onset of diplopia, postural instability, and subtotal loss of consciousness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed an acute left thalamo-me

SUBMITTER: Onorato EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12426240 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature