A middle-aged woman with a history of completed myocardial infarction and left-sided paresthesias presented with chest pain and elevated troponin T levels (1037 ng/L; normal levels, <14 ng/L).
Coronary angiography demonstrated unobstructed coronary arteries; cardiac magnetic resonance imaging suggested edema from acute infarction at the site of a previous infarction; and a transthoracic echocardiogram saline contrast study (ie, bubble study) demonstrated color flow at rest across the interatrial septum and a large shunt on Valsalva maneuver consistent with a grade 3 patent foramen ovale (PFO). Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral white matter lesions thought to be secondary to small vessel disease greater in number than expected for the patient's age, raising suspicion for microemboli.
She was diagnosed with paradoxical embolism through a PFO causing recurrent systemic embolism and was treated with PFO closure and 6 months of antiplatelet therapy. Click the Related Article for a complete discussion.
JN Learning™ is the home for CME and MOC from the JAMA Network. Search by specialty or US state and earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ from articles, audio, Clinical Challenges and more. Learn more about CME/MOC
or
You currently have no searches saved.
You currently have no courses saved.