Abstract

Previous clinical studies have suggested an increased prevalence of cerebral infarction and subclinical brain lesions in migraineurs, although the m echanisms are not clear. Recent clinical studies showed that patent foramen ovale (PFO), which is one of important causes of ischemic stroke in young people, is m ore common in m igraine w ith aura, and migraine w ith aura is m ore prevalent in patients w ith PFO. Retrospective analyses of PFO closure for stroke prevention and decompressive illness in divers have suggested that m igraineurs w ith and w ithout aura may disappear or im prove after PFO closure. A recent prospective random ized sham-controlled study show ed some benefits of PFO closure in migraine prevention, which suggested the causative roles of PFO in development of migraine attacks. H owever, considering the periprocedural complication risk of PFO closure, further confirmative prospective clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous device closure of PFO for migraine prevention is essential before application in the clinical practice. Korean Journal of Headache 7(1):27-30, 2006