Patent Foramen Ovale and Migraine Headache

Migraine headache is a common and debilitating disease that has a demonstrable association with the presence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in multiple case series. Closure of PFO has been performed to try to treat migraine with aura, with variable results. Although early trials suggested benefit to PFO closure, these were of poor quality, and subsequent randomized trials have failed to yield positive results. This article discusses the evidence of an association with PFO and migraine headache, and the trials that have so far been performed to assess the benefits of closure.