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Thromb Haemost 2001; 85(01): 22-29
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1612658
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

Stroke in Young Adults: The Role of Paradoxical Embolism

Harvey Chant
1   Department of Surgery, Withington Hospital, West Didsbury, Manchester, UK
,
Charles McCollum
1   Department of Surgery, Withington Hospital, West Didsbury, Manchester, UK
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 22 July 1999

Accepted after resubmission 03 August 2000

Publication Date:
08 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Stroke in young adults may be devastating and frequently no cause can be found. However, there is ample literature to suggest an association between cryptogenic stroke in young people and paradoxical embolisation via a venous to arterial circulation shunt (v-aCS), commonly due to patent foramen ovale (PFO). Although paradoxical embolisation is assumed to be a rare event, this review suggests that it is an important or even dominant cause of stroke in young people and that a transcranial Doppler (TCD) technique may be the investigation of choice to identify v-aCS.

Appendix I, II on pp. 26-7

Keywords

Venous to arterial circulation shunt - foramen ovale - transcranial doppler - ischaemic stroke
 

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