Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale for migraine headaches refractory to medical treatment

Long-term impact of transcatheter closure interatrial shunts on disabling migraine

BACKGROUNDS

Effectiveness of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure on relief of migraine, is still unclear. We sought to analyse the long-term (>10 years) effects of interatrial septal shunt repair on disabling migraine performing a retrospective non-randomised study.

METHODS

Clinical records of patients with disabling, medication-refractory migraine and PFO or significant ASD referred to our centre for closure from 2006 to 2018, were analysed.

RESULTS

Forty -six patients (38 female, mean age 40.0 ± 3.7 years) with PFO and 32 patients with significant ASD (28 female, mean age 38.0 ± 4.1 years) submitted to transcatheter closure had a pre-existing disabling migraine with mean Migraine Disability Assessment Score (MIDAS) of 35.8 ± 4.7. After a mean follow-up of 118.2 ± 19.1 months (range 96 to 144), 72 out of 78 patients were still followed-up: in all subjects, aura was abolished, and migraine improved also in patients without aura. The mean MIDAS significantly decreased from baseline value (p < 0.01). Complete migraine resolution was associated in PFO patients with a shorter history of migraine, a more severe thrombophilic profile, a more severe Right-to-Left Shunt (RLS) and larger left atrial diameter and volume, and in ASD patients with bidirectional shunt.

CONCLUSIONS

Device-based repair of PFO/ASD in patients with migraine was associated with abolition of aura and symptoms reduction in the long-term period.

European position paper on the management of patients with patent foramen ovale. Part II - Decompression sickness, migraine, arterial deoxygenation syndromes and select high-risk clinical conditions

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of medical conditions but to date only one official position paper related to left circulation thromboembolism has been published. This interdisciplinary paper, prepared with the involvement of eight European scientific societies, reviews the available evidence and proposes a rationale for decision making for other PFO-related clinical conditions. In order to guarantee a strict evidence-based process, we used a modified grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) methodology. A critical qualitative and quantitative evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures was performed, including assessment of the risk/benefit ratio. The level of evidence and the strength of the position statements were weighed and graded according to predefined scales. Despite being based on limited and observational or low-certainty randomised data, a number of position statements were made to frame PFO management in different clinical settings, along with suggestions for new research avenues. This interdisciplinary position paper, recognising the low or very low certainty of existing evidence, provides the first approach to several PFO-related clinical scenarios beyond left circulation thromboembolism and strongly stresses the need for fresh high-quality evidence on these topics.

The Correlation Between Migraine and Patent Foramen Ovale

Background: Migraine is a widespread neurological disorder. The patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a remnant of the fetal circulation. Multiple studies suggest that migraine is more prevalent in subjects with PFO and vice versa. It is unclear if there is a causal relationship or simply a co-existence of these two conditions. Furthermore, the treatment of migraine with percutaneous closure PFO remains controversial.

Methods: We reviewed studies pertaining to the relationship between PFO and migraine as well as the effects of treatments on migraine attacks.

Results: We briefly summarized potential pathophysiological mechanisms of migraine, and elaborated on migraine type, frequency, and clinical symptoms of migraine with PFO and the clinical features of PFO with migraine. We also addressed the effects of PFO closure on migraine attacks.

Conclusion: The evidence supports a “dose-response” relationship between migraine and PFO although more work needs to be done in terms of patient selection as well as the inclusion of an antiplatelet control group for PFO closure interventions to uncover possible beneficial results in clinical trials.

Migraine and percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The association between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and migraine with aura (MA) is well established. However, the benefits of PFO closure are less certain in patients with migraine without aura (MwoA).

Methods

We systematically searched Pubmed for pertinent clinical studies published from January 2000 to July 2015. The primary end-point was the elimination or significant improvement of migraine symptoms after PFO closure.

Results

Upon screening an initial list of 315 publications, we identified eight studies that included 546 patients. Overall, our analysis indicated a significant improvement of migraine in 81% of MA cases compared to only 63% of MwoA cases. The summary odds ratio was 2.5 (95% confidence interval 1.09–5.73), and the benefits of PFO closure were significantly greater for patients with MA compared to patients with MwoA (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

The presence of aura provides a reference standard for the clinical selection of patients with migraine for PFO closure intervention.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12872-017-0644-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Multidisciplinary Assessment in Optimising Results of Percutaneous Patent Foramen Ovale Closure

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is a therapeutic option to prevent recurrent cerebral ischaemia in patients with cryptogenic stroke and transient cerebral ischaemia (TIA). The apparent lack of benefit seen in previous randomised trials has, in part, reflected inclusion of patients with alternate mechanisms of stroke. The role of formal neurology involvement in accurately delineating the likely aetiology of stroke or TIA is crucial in appropriate identification of patients for device closure. Furthermore, as the benefits of device closure may accrue over time, long-term follow-up is essential to define the role of device closure in management of presumed cryptogenic stroke.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed our experience with percutaneous PFO device closure since 2005. All subjects who underwent PFO closure at John Hunter and Lake Macquarie Private Hospitals were included in the study. All patients referred for device closure following cryptogenic stroke or TIA had first undergone formal neurology review with appropriate imaging and exclusion of paroxysmal atrial arrhythmia. Patients with a history of transient ischaemic attack (TIA) are frequently referred to a specialised clinic, aimed to identify patients with conditions not referable to cerebral ischaemia, with investigations initiated by the specialist clinic to elucidate an underlying aetiology. Outcome data was derived from the Hunter New England Area Local Health District Cardiac and Stroke Outcomes Unit, in addition to review of the medical record. The Cardiac and Stroke Outcomes Unit prospectively identified all patients presenting with stroke, TIA and atrial fibrillation.

RESULTS

One hundred and twelve consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure between 2005 and 2015 were identified. The average age was 42.7 years and 57 (50.9%) patients were male. Cryptogenic stroke (68.8%) and transient cerebral ischaemia (23.2%) were the most common indications for PFO closure, with the Amplatzer device used in 83 cases (74.1%). Early residual shunting was visible in seven patients (6.3%), however on follow-up agitated saline study only two patients had residual shunt (1.8%). The annual risk of recurrent stroke or TIA was 0.21%.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure can be performed safely and effectively in patients with paradoxical embolism. In selected patients, following appropriate multidisciplinary specialist pre-procedural assessment, excellent long-term results with low incidence of recurrent events may be achieved.

Patent foramen ovale and migraine attacks: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Migraine headache and the presence of a patent foramen ovale have been associated with each other, although the precise pathophysiological mechanism(s) are uncertain. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the extent of patent foramen ovale prevalence in migraineurs and to determine whether closure of a patent foramen ovale would improve migraine headache.

METHODS

An electronic literature search was performed to select studies between January 1980 and February 2013 that were relevant to the prevalence of patent foramen ovale and migraine, and the effects of intervention(s) on migraine attacks. Of the initial 368 articles presented by the initial search, 20 satisfied the inclusion criteria assessing patent foramen ovale prevalence in migraineurs and 21 presented data on patent foramen ovale closure.

RESULTS

In case series and cohort studies, patent foramen ovale prevalence in migraineurs ranged from 14.6% to 66.5%. Case-control studies reported a prevalence ranging from 16.0% to 25.7% in controls, compared with 26.8% to 96.0% for migraine with aura. The extent of improvement or resolution of migraine headache attack symptoms was variable. In case series, intervention ameliorated migraine headache attack in 13.6% to 92.3% of cases. One single randomized trial did not show any benefit from patent foramen ovale closure. The data overall do not exclude the possibility of a placebo effect for resolving migraine following patent foramen ovale closure.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review demonstrates firstly that migraine headache attack is associated with a higher prevalence of patent foramen ovale than among the general population. Observational data suggest that some improvement of migraine would be observed if the patent foramen ovale were to be closed. A proper assessment of any interventions for patent foramen ovale closure would require further large randomized trials to be conducted given uncertainties from existing trial data.

Visual migraine aura with or without headache: association with right to left shunt and assessment following transcutaneous closure

Background

Right to left shunting, usually caused by a patent foramen ovale (PFO), is associated with migraine and visual aura. It is unknown if patients who present with visual aura without headache behave similarly to those experiencing typical migraine headache with aura. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of right to left shunting in patients who present with migraine aura without headache and evaluate the response to PFO closure.

Methods

The records of patients referred to the Interventional Cardiology program at the University of California at Los Angeles for suspected intracardiac right to left shunt were reviewed. Individuals with visual auras with or without migraine headaches were divided into three groups: group A (aura + migraine), migraine aura during or within 60 minutes of headache; group B (migraine aura unrelated to headache), migraine aura and headache temporally unrelated; and group C (migraine aura only), isolated migraine visual aura without a history of headaches. The presence of right to left shunt was assessed using transcranial Doppler with an agitated saline test. PFO closure was performed in 80 patients. Residual headache and migraine visual aura were assessed 3 and 12 months after the procedure. The control group consisted of 200 patients referred for diagnostic cardiac catheterization.

Results

Of 590 referred patients, 225 had migraine visual aura with or without headache. The prevalence of right to left shunt was similar (P = 0.66) in groups B (21/29, 72%) and C (14/21, 67%). Group A patients had a higher prevalence of right to left shunt (168/175, 96%) due to selection bias. The prevalence of right to left shunt in the control group was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower (36/200, 18%) than in groups A, B, and C. At 12 months after PFO closure, visual aura was resolved in 52%, 75%, and 80% of patients in groups A, B, and C, respectively (difference not statistically significant).

Conclusion

There is an increased prevalence of PFO among patients with migraine aura without headache. The closure of PFO correlates with improvement of the visual aura, suggesting a causative association between the presence of PFO and both visual aura and migraine headaches. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the association of right to left shunts with visual aura.

Patent foramen ovale may be causal for the first stroke but unrelated to subsequent ischemic events

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Studies with very long follow-up are scarce in patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale (PFO). Little is known about the etiology of recurrent cerebrovascular events (CVE) in PFO patients.

METHODS

We collected information on recurrent CVE in 308 patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO and sought to determine concurrent stroke causes that had emerged or been newly detected since the index event. One hundred fifty-eight patients received aspirin (48%), clopidogrel (2%), or oral anticoagulants (50%; medical group). One hundred fifty patients underwent percutaneous PFO closure (closure group).

RESULTS

Mean age at index event was 50 years (SD 13). In 33% of patients, the index stroke or transient ischemic attack was preceded by at least 1 CVE. Mean follow-up was 8.7±4.0 years. During follow-up, 32 recurrent CVE (13 strokes and 19 transient ischemic attacks) occurred in the medical and 16 recurrent CVE (8 strokes and 8 transient ischemic attacks) in the closure group. Concurrent etiologies were identified for 12 recurrent CVE in the medical group (38%): large artery disease (9%), small artery disease (6%), cardioembolism (13%), cerebral vasculitis (3%), and antiphospholipid-antibody-syndrome (6%). In the closure group, 7 recurrent CVE had a concurrent etiology (44%): large artery disease (6%), small artery disease (19%), cardioembolism (13%), and thrombophilic disorder (6%). The frequency of concurrent etiologies did not differ between patients with recurrent CVE under medical treatment and those undergoing PFO closure (P=0.68).

CONCLUSIONS

Concurrent etiologies are identified for more than one third of recurrent ischemic events in patients with cryptogenic stroke, casting doubt on the sole causal role of PFO.

Headache and cardiovascular disease: old symptoms, new proposals

Evidence of a link between headache symptoms and cardiovascular disease has rapidly grown in recent years and it is of utmost importance for the cardiologist and neurologist to be aware of this intimate connection. A brief overview of different cardiovascular diseases (namely hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, patent foramen ovale, atrial septal defects, atrial septal aneurisms, mitral valve prolapse, and aortic and carotid disease) that may be related to headache is presented in this article. Proposed pathophysiological mechanisms for this association and landmark studies are reviewed and discussed.