Valvular & structural heart diseaseResearch article
The Clinical Impact of Patent Foramen Ovale in Patients With Carcinoid Heart Disease
- Patients diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumor and carcinoid syndrome (CS), and with serial transthoracic echocardiograms
Authors' conclusion
Patients with CS and PFO were at increased risk of progression of left-sided valve disease and valve surgery. PFO presence was also associated with an increased risk of stroke, highlighting the importance of surveillance and consideration of potential early intervention.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with neuroendocrine tumor and carcinoid syndrome (CS) with serial transthoracic echocardiogramsmet the inclusion criteria, of 413 patients with neuroendocrine tumor and CS, 67 patients had a patent foramen ovale (PFO)
- Participants
- 175 patients
- Comparison
- Patients with PFO vs without PFO
- PFOn = 67
- Outcome
- Progression of left-sided valve disease
- Follow-up
- 3.6 years (1.1-5.9) between serial transthoracic echocardiograms
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Adjusted hazard ratio
1.93
95% CI 1.09–3.42
P = 0.025
PFO vs No PFO
aHR 1.93 (95% CI 1.09–3.42); P = 0.025
Secondary outcomes
Left-sided valve replacement
P = 0.012
| Outcome | aHR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right-sided valve disease progression · not a significant increase | 1.51 (0.91–2.51) | P = 0.111 | |
| Stroke | 5.42 (1.57–18.70) | P = 0.007 | |
| 0.050.21520Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
The Clinical Impact of Patent Foramen Ovale in Patients With Carcinoid Heart Disease. JACC Adv. Published 16 March 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102668
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it