378 VERY-LATE THROMBUS-RELATED STROKE AFTER PERCUTANEOUS PFO CLOSURE: MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF A RARE COMPLICATION


 In May 2020, a 45-years-old woman was admitted to the Emergency Department due to transient ischemic attack. The thrombophilia screening showed hemizygous prothrombin gene mutation (Factor II) and homozygous MTHFR mutation. The transthoracic echocardiography was normal, with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 60% and no morphological or functional valve disease. The 24-h Holter ECG and the past medical history did not show any specific cause of the neurologic manifestations. In the absence of a specific and plausible cause of the transient ischemic attack, a diagnosis of cryptogenic stroke was made. The patient then underwent transcranial Doppler, which showed a high-grade shunt (curtain effect), and transesophageal echocardiography with bubble test, which showed the presence of a massive right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale (PFO) during the Valsalva maneuver. A therapy with warfarin (achieving a target INR between 2 and 3) was therefore started, and the indication for a percutaneous PFO closure was given. In January 2021 the patient underwent successful percutaneous PFO closure with the Gore Cardioform Septal Occluder 25/25 mm (W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc.) through intracardiac echocardiographic guidance with no complication and without any residual shunt. The patient was discharged on dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin 100 mg daily plus clopidogrel 75 mg daily for six months, and pantoprazole 20 mg daily, followed by aspirin 100 mg daily chronically. After 6 months the patient underwent transcranial Doppler, which was negative for shunt. 12 months after the implantation the patient stopped aspirin by her own initiative. In August 2022, due to the diagnosis of an ovarian cyst, the gynecologist prescribed estro-progestogen pill: in that occasion, the patient did not mention her thrombophilia. After 10 days, sudden onset of weakness of the right upper limb and aphasia. The patient was then admitted to the Emergency Department, were the computer tomography showed two acute lesions on the left cerebral hemisphere. Therefore, the patient underwent intravenous thrombolysis, with complete regression of the neurological symptoms: a diagnosis of stroke was then formulated. To understand the origin of such stroke, the neurologist gave indication to cardiological evaluation. The patient did not have any palpitation in the previous months and the electrocardiogram showed normal sinus rhythm. However, the transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation showed a dubious image of a mass attached to the interatrial septum, for which the patient underwent transesophageal echocardiography, which showed a 10×9 mm fluctuating thrombus attached to the left side of the previously implanted PFO closure device. Therefore, an oral anticoagulation therapy with warfarin plus a subcutaneous therapy with enoxaparin 6000 UI twice daily (as bridge to obtain the desired INR between 2 and 3) was started. After ten days, the patient underwent a new transesophageal echocardiography, which showed a substantial reduction in the dimensions of the thrombus (4×3 mm). The patient was then discharged in warfarin therapy with no residual neurological symptoms.