[Relationship between epilepsy and patent foramen ovale].

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of epilepsy in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and the effect of PFO closure on seizures. Patients diagnosed with PFO were recruited and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging, electrocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and transthoracic echocardiography with right ventriculography. In patients with epilepsy, electroencephalography was performed. A total of 110 patients completed the assessment. A chief complaint of chest tightness or palpitations was proportionately higher in patients aged<18 years, whereas headaches and seizures were higher in patients aged≥18 years (χ²=4.69,P<0.05). Comorbid epilepsy was observed in 20.9% of patients with PFO. The age at admission in the epileptic group (14-66(27±14)years) was significantly lower than that in the non-epileptic group (16-81(38±21)years) and that in patients with headache as the chief complaint (16-68(39±12)years) (t=3.29, P<0.05). The multivariate analysis found no risk factors related to the prognosis of epilepsy. The incidence of epilepsy was significantly higher in patients with PFO than in the general population.