What are the medical treatments available for cryptogenic stroke patients with patent foramen ovale?
The medical treatments available for cryptogenic stroke patients with patent foramen ovale include antithrombotic therapy with aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, or combination therapy, as well as patent foramen ovale closure. In a study by Shariat et al. (2013), a comparison was made between these two treatments, and it was found that patent foramen ovale closure was more effective in reducing the risk of recurrent stroke. A meta-analysis by Ma et al. (2018) also found that patent foramen ovale closure was superior to medical therapy for secondary prevention of cryptogenic stroke. However, a cost-effectiveness analysis by McNamara et al. (2012) concluded that echocardiography to identify intracardiac thrombus should be done before any medical treatment is prescribed. 