by
Joan Trombetti, Writer | December 29, 2008
Young Truck Driver a Case in Point
The purpose of the study is to help patients like Nathan Prince, a 31-year-old truck driver from Justice, Ill., who learned he had a congenital hole in his heart after suffering two strokes in three days.
"I was completely shocked," said Prince. "I kept thinking I am way too young. I never experienced any symptoms. I am pretty athletic and always on the go. All of this seemed so sudden."
Prince was immediately put on anticoagulants and other medication. "I was pretty upset when I found out that I had to take all this medication," said Prince. "I mean, I am a young guy and now I have to take all these medicines and who knows what the long term effects could be."
Prince's neurologist referred him to Rush University Medical Center to see Hijazi. "When Dr. Hijazi explained to me that I could have a procedure that could close up that hole, stop my stroke symptoms and be home the next day, I immediately asked how soon we could do the procedure," said Prince.
The same afternoon as his procedure, Nathan was up, reading, moving around and ready to go home.
"I'm just happy that I won't have to be on all those medications anymore," said Prince.
Currently, the primary treatment option is medical management.
"This study may provide useful information that will help us determine a new possible standard of care for stroke patients," said Lee. "We have medications options that work well in reducing a stroke patient's risk of recurrence, but now we can see if PFO closure is an additional option that may also be beneficial to stroke patients.
MRI-imaging will be performed on all patients as a baseline in order to make comparisons between treatment arms.
To participate in the study, you must be 18-60-years-old, have a presence of a PFO with a history of cryptogenic stroke or imaging-confirmed TIA.
Rush University Medical Center is an academic medical center that encompasses the more than 600 staffed-bed hospital (including Rush Children's Hospital), the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center and Rush University. Rush University, with more than 1,270 students, is home to one of the first medical schools in the Midwest, and one of the nation's top-ranked nursing colleges. Rush University also offers graduate programs in allied health and the basic sciences. Rush is noted for bringing together clinical care and research to address major health problems, including arthritis and orthopedic disorders, cancer, heart disease, mental illness, neurological disorders and diseases associated with aging.
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