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Prevalence of patent foramen ovale in ischemic stroke in Italy: the SISIFO study

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An Erratum to this article was published on 21 April 2015

Abstract

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common congenital anatomical defect in the general population with a mean prevalence of 20 %. Transcranial Doppler sonography and echocardiography, both with infusion of agitated saline as an echo contrast, have been introduced for the diagnosis of PFO. Transesophageal echocardiography is considered the gold standard. Several studies have suggested an association between cryptogenetic stroke and PFO, but the role of this condition as a risk factor for stroke is still debated. The aims of this prospective multicentre study are the evaluation of PFO prevalence in the whole ischemic stroke population and the identification of a stroke recurrence profile risk in patients with PFO. All consecutive patients admitted for acute ischemic stroke and with a confirmed diagnosis at discharge are eligible cases for the study. Demographic and vascular risk factors are registered. Clinical severity is summarized by the National Institute of Health stroke scale. Echocardiographic and transcranial studies are performed in each patient to detect the presence of PFO. Prevalence of PFO will be calculated with 95 % CIs. Univariate analysis will be performed to detect the correlation of PFO with different registered factors and multivariable analysis with PFO as independent variable. The present study should contribute to better identify the role of PFO in ischemic stroke risk and recurrence-related events. Qualifying findings of the study are represented by the high number of enrolled patients, the prospective methodology of the study and the presence of secondary instrumental endpoints.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UO Neurologia Ospedale “G. Jazzolino” Piazzale Fleming, 89900, Vibo Valentia, Italy

    Domenico Consoli & Paolo Postorino

  2. UC Malattie Cerebrovascolari/Stroke Unit IRCCS INN C, Mondino Via Mondino, 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Anna Cavallini

  3. DINOGMI, Stroke-Unit, University of Genoa, Largo Daneo, 3, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Carlo Gandolfo

  4. UO Neurologia ASL 1 dell’ Umbria Ospedale, Via Engels, 06012, Città di Castello (PG), Italy

    Stefano Ricci

  5. Neurology Unit S. Andrea Hospital, Via Vittorio Veneto 197, 19124, La Spezia, Italy

    Massimo Del Sette

  6. Stroke Unit, Perugia University, Perugia, Italy

    Maurizio Paciaroni

  7. Neurologia e Stroke Unit Ospedale Cardinal Massaja Asti, Asti, Italy

    Marco Aguggia

  8. SC Neurologia-Stroke Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera G.Brotzu, Pzz.le Ricchi, 109134, Cagliari, Italy

    Maurizio Melis

  9. Neurology Unit, Stroke Unit, Department of Neuromotor Physiology, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Giovanni Malferrari

  10. Azienda Ospedaliera S. Anna, Como, Italy

    Simone Vidale & Paolo Cerrato

  11. AOU “Molinette”, Turin, Italy

    Domenico Consoli, Maurizio Paciaroni, Marco Aguggia, Maurizio Melis, Giovanni Malferrari, Simone Vidale, Paolo Cerrato, Simona Sacco, Carlo Gandolfo, Paolo Bovi, Carlo Serrati, Massimo Del Sette, Anna Cavallini, Paolo Postorino & Stefano Ricci

  12. SSO Stroke Unit UO Neurologia DAI di Neuroscienze, AOU Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy

    Paolo Bovi

  13. Department of Neurology, University of L’Aquila, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy

    Simona Sacco

  14. AO “S. Martino”, Genova, Italy

    Carlo Serrati

  15. Uoc Stroke Unit, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Universita’ Degli Studi di Roma tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Marina Diomedi

Authors
  1. Domenico Consoli
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  2. Maurizio Paciaroni
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  4. Maurizio Melis
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  6. Simone Vidale
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  7. Paolo Cerrato
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  8. Simona Sacco
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  9. Carlo Gandolfo
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  10. Paolo Bovi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Domenico Consoli.

Additional information

On behalf of SISIFO group. The members of the SISIFO group are listed in “Appendix”.

Appendix: SISIFO study group

Appendix: SISIFO study group

Steering Committee: D. Toni, S. Ricci, G. Micieli, P. Postorino, R. Sterzi, A. Zaninelli, M. Del Sette, GF. Gensini, M. Paciaroni, C. Gandolfo, M. Comito, D.Consoli (coordinatore), G. Di Pasquale

Monitoring Committee: G.Neri (coordinatore), D. Zarcone, N. Bosco, S.Vidale, M. Melis

Investigators

Domenico Consoli (Vibo Valentia)

Marco Arnaboldi (Como)

Paolo Postorino (Vibo Valentia)

Alberto Sampietro (Como)

Paolo Stanzione (centre of Rome)

Silvia Ricci (L’Aquila)

Franco Galati (Vibo Valentia)

Patrizia Riga (L’Aquila)

Giovanni Maria Franco (Vibo Valentia)

Diana Degan (L’Aquila)

Antonino Vecchio (Vibo Valentia)

Maurizio Paciaroni (Perugia)

Piero David (Vibo Valentia)

Giancarlo Agnelli (Perugia)

Concetta Orlando (Vibo Valentia)

Monica Acciarresi (Perugia)

Annabella Francolino (Vibo Valentia)

Andrea Alberti (Perugia)

Gaetano Grillo (Vibo Valentia)

Valeria Caso (Perugia)

Caterina Gattuso (Vibo Valentia)

Cataldo D’Amore (Perugia)

Arturo Consoli (Vibo Valentia)

Michele Venti (Perugia)

Michele Comito (Vibo Valentia)

Carlo Gandolfo (Genova Università)

Nicola Cardona (Vibo Valentia)

Maurizio Balestrino (Genova Università)

Alfredo De Nardo (Vibo Valentia)

Chiara Bruno (Genova Università)

Domenico Tulino (Vibo Valentia)

Cinzia Finocchi (Genova Università)

Simone Vidale (Como)

Davide Massucco (Genova Università)

Davide Sassos (Genova Università)

Anna Cavallini (Pavia)

Erica Viani (Genova Università)

Elena Tartara (Pavia)

Nicoletta Reale (Genova Università)

Maria Carmela Spinelli (Pavia)

Carlo Serrati (Genova S. Martino)

Marco Aguggia (Asti)

Domenica Rizzi (Genova S. Martino)

Alessandra Lentini (Asti)

Giulia Brusa (Genova S. Martino)

Maurizio Melis (Cagliari)

Gian Andrea Ottonello (Genova S. Martino)

Valeria Piras (Cagliari)

Stefano Ricci (Città di Castello)

Jessica Moller (Cagliari)

Silvia Cenciarelli (Città di Castello)

Marzia Lilliu (Cagliari)

Alessia Mattioni (Città di Castello)

Vladimiro Fois (Cagliari)

Elisabetta Gallinella (Città di Castello)

Paolo Bovi (Verona)

Rosaria Condurso (Città di Castello)

Monica Carletti (Verona)

Isabella Sicilia (Città di Castello)

Giovanni Malferrari (Reggio Emilia)

Chiara Menichetti (Città di Castello)

Maria Luisa Zedde (Reggio Emilia)

Lorenzo Conti (Città di Castello)

Paolo Cerrato (Torino)

Stefano Cecconi (Città di Castello)

G. Di Pasquale (Bologna)

Massimo Del Sette (La Spezia)

 

Valeria Carlino (La Spezia)

 

Masina Cotroneo (La Spezia)

 

Eugenio Cibei (La Spezia)

 

Roberta Gaeta (La Spezia)

 

Laura Maregatti (La Spezia)

 

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Consoli, D., Paciaroni, M., Aguggia, M. et al. Prevalence of patent foramen ovale in ischemic stroke in Italy: the SISIFO study. Neurol Sci 35, 867–873 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-013-1615-2

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