The purpose of this study were to identify the usefulness of screening for PFO using agitated saline echocardiography (ASE) and characteristics and prognosis of patients with suggestive of patent foramen ovale (PFO). Three hundred three patients (mean age, 53 ± 9 years; 199 [66%] men) admitted with acute stroke or suspicion of stroke were included. Patients were classified into those with and without right-to-left shunt (RLS) according to the ASE results (positive ASE [n = 92] vs. negative ASE [n = 211]). Fifty-one out of ninety-two patients with positive ASE and twenty-one out of two hundred eleven patients with negative ASE underwent TEE with ASE to confirm PFO. Ninety-two were positive for ASE and thirty-six of the fifty-one patients who underwent TEE were confirmed as having PFO. Of the patients with RLS grade 1, 50% were diagnosed with PFO and all patients with RLS grade ≥ 2 were diagnosed with PFO. All patients with negative ASE had no PFO (sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 58%). Patients with positive ASE were younger, had a lower body mass, and a lower prevalence of hypertension. The positive ASE patients had a higher mean Sʹ velocity and better diastolic function. Four of ninety-one patients with positive ASE and thirteen of one hundred seventy-seven showed recurrence of stroke and suspicion of stroke. Transthoracic ASE is a good method to screen for PFO. Patients with suggestive of PFO had lower risk factors, less atherosclerosis, and better cardiac performance.

中文翻译：

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提示卵圆孔未闭的隐源性卒中患者的特征和预后

本研究的目的是确定使用搅拌盐水超声心动图 (ASE) 筛查 PFO 的有用性以及提示卵圆孔未闭 (PFO) 的患者的特征和预后。纳入了 303 名因急性中风或疑似中风入院的患者（平均年龄，53 ± 9 岁；199 名 [66%] 男性）。根据 ASE 结果（阳性 ASE [n = 92] 与阴性 ASE [n = 211]）将患者分为有和没有右向左分流 (RLS) 的患者。92 名 ASE 阳性患者中的 51 名和 211 名 ASE 阴性患者中的 21 名接受了 ASE 的 TEE 以确认 PFO。92 名 ASE 呈阳性，51 名接受 TEE 的患者中有 36 名被确认患有 PFO。在 RLS 1 级患者中，50% 被诊断为 PFO，所有 RLS ≥ 2 级的患者都被诊断为 PFO。所有 ASE 阴性的患者都没有 PFO（敏感性为 100%，特异性为 58%）。ASE 阳性的患者更年轻，体重更轻，高血压患病率更低。ASE阳性患者的平均S′速度较高，舒张功能较好。91 名 ASE 阳性患者中的 4 名和 177 名患者中的 13 名表现出中风复发和疑似中风。经胸 ASE 是筛查 PFO 的好方法。提示 PFO 的患者具有较低的危险因素、较少的动脉粥样硬化和更好的心脏功能。体重较轻，高血压患病率较低。ASE阳性患者的平均S′速度较高，舒张功能较好。91 名 ASE 阳性患者中的 4 名和 177 名患者中的 13 名表现出中风复发和疑似中风。经胸 ASE 是筛查 PFO 的好方法。提示 PFO 的患者具有较低的危险因素、较少的动脉粥样硬化和更好的心脏功能。体重较轻，高血压患病率较低。ASE阳性患者的平均S′速度较高，舒张功能较好。91 名 ASE 阳性患者中的 4 名和 177 名患者中的 13 名表现出中风复发和疑似中风。经胸 ASE 是筛查 PFO 的好方法。提示 PFO 的患者具有较低的危险因素、较少的动脉粥样硬化和更好的心脏功能。