PFO and cluster

You knew that PFO, a congenital (present at birth) heart defect was related to migraine, but did you know it was related to clusters as well?  The heart defect known as Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is an opening between the left and right atria of the heart.  1 in 5 people may have this defect.  In most cases, that’s not a big deal.

At the Univeristy of Genoa in Italy, Dr Cinzia Finocchi and team found that cluster patients were far more likely to have the defect than others.

Why?  It has been theorized that low oxygen in the blood may help start the cluster cycle.  The mixing of blood through the hole could make enough of a difference.

Dr Finocchi doesn’t recommend everyone rush out to get the available surgery just yet, however.  There’s no evidence…not yet…that closing the hole will end the cluster attacks.