Systematic review of percutaneous closure versus medical therapy in patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To provide a comprehensive comparison of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure versus medical therapy in patients with cryptogenic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and demonstrated PFO.

Design

Systematic review with complete case meta-analysis and sensitivity analyses. Data sources included MEDLINE and EMBASE from 1980 up to May 2013. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing treatment with percutaneous catheter-based closure of PFO to anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy in patients with cryptogenic stroke or TIA and echocardiographically confirmed PFO or atrial septal defect (ASD) were eligible.

Participants

1967 participants with prior stroke or TIA and echocardiographically confirmed PFO or ASD.

Primary outcome measures

The primar

SUBMITTER: Spencer FA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3948581 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature