Rarely, a patent foramen ovale can cause a significant amount of blood to go around the lungs. This lowers blood oxygen levels, a condition called hypoxemia. Stroke. Sometimes small blood clots in veins may travel to the heart.
Evidence suggests PFO has a genetic predisposition. Genetic variants associated with PFO would serve as biomarkers used for screening high risk individuals. Specific genes that contribute to FO closure are largely unknown. This is attributed to our incomplete understanding of the physiological process of FO closure.
Patent foramen ovale causes It may be genetic, meaning it runs in families. The condition also seems to be found more frequently in people who regularly have migraines with auras.
Stroke is the major possible complication of a PFO. People who have a PFO are slightly more likely to have a stroke than people who don't. A PFO is more likely to be involved in a stroke of a younger adult. That's because younger people don't have as many risk factors for stroke from other causes.
Everyone has them at birth, but the hole usually closes. PFOs that do not close are common, and found in 1 of every 4 adults. PFOs are more likely in newborns who have a congenital heart defect.
Among patients younger than 60 years with no other etiology identified after a thorough diagnostic evaluation, transcatheter PFO closure probably reduces the risk of recurrent stroke (summary rate difference −0.67% per year, 95% CI, −0.39% to −0.94%, I2 = 0), with a number needed to treat of 29 to reduce 1 stroke at 5 ...
Most PFOs require no treatment. People who have no risk factors for stroke or any history of traveling blood clots usually do not get treatment. Your healthcare provider may want to treat your PFO if you have had problems from these traveling blood clots, like stroke. In these cases, treatment for PFOs varies.
While PFO usually doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms, it can be serious. PFO increases the risk of a stroke caused by deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that can form in the veins of the legs.