Summary

Cryptogenic stroke remains a major challenge for clinicians taking care of patients who have had strokes. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a contributor to cryptogenic stroke due to paradoxical embolism [Furlan AJ et al. N Engl J Med 2012], but the optimal management strategy for PFO has yet to be defined [Kitsios GD et al. Stroke 2012]. This article reports the results of a follow-up analysis of the RESPECT PFO Clinical Trial [RESPECT; NCT00465270] to characterize the qualifying and endpoint ischemic strokes.