Abstract TP225: Prevalence of Patent Foramen Ovale in Patients With Cancer-Related Stroke

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Cancer increases the risk for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and deep venous thrombosis. The role of paradoxical embolization as a stroke etiology in patients with cancer is uncertain. Our study investigated the relationship between cancer-related stroke and the presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Methods: We included AIS patients hospitalized at our comprehensive stroke center between January 2015 and December 2020 with available PFO status as detected on transesophageal echocardiography. Active cancer, including cancer known at the time of stroke as well as occult cancer newly diagnosed within one year after stroke, were retrospectively identified. The association between PFO status and active cancer was assessed with multivariable logistic regression and reported using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Among 2236 AIS patients (median age 68.3 years, female sex 36.4%), 103 (4.6%) had active cancer, of whom 24 (23%) were diagnosed with PFO. This included 32 patients (1.4%) with occult cancer, of whom 19% were diagnosed with PFO. Conversely, among 2133 AIS patients without active cancer, 774 were diagnosed with PFO (36%). In multivariable analysis (Fig 1), the absence of PFO was associated with active cancer (aOR 2.62, 95% CI 1.28-5.38). This association appeared stronger when patients older than 80 years of age were excluded (aOR 3.06, 95% CI 1.42 - 6.58) and persisted among patients with occult cancer at the time of AIS (aOR 5.39, 95% CI 1.18-24.74). Conclusions: In patients with AIS, PFO was diagnosed more commonly among patients without cancer than those with cancer. This might be due to cancer-related stroke being related to arterial coagulopathy rather than paradoxical emboli resulting from venous thrombi. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to assess the diagnostic role of PFO in patients with cancer and AIS.