[Migraine, stroke and patent foramen ovale--connected or not?].

A relationship between migraine with aura and patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been established in clinical studies, and is now related to previous observation that migraine and stroke are connected. Studies have shown that the prevalence of PFO in patients with migraine is about 2.5-fold than in patients without migraine. Up to now, there is no consensus on the treatment of PFO in primary or secondary prevention, so both surgical and conservative methods are used. Most nonrandomized studies (and 1 randomized placebo-controlled study) have shown that migraine attacks are reduced after PFO closure; however, recent studies show that a new onset or worsening of migraine headaches may occur after closure of PFO or atrial septal defects. Therefore, no definite conclusions can be made on the treatment of migraines by PFO closure.