Introduction:
Cardio-vascular anomalies, including patent foramen ovale, are the cause of 40% of cryptogenic strokes. Patent foramen ovale is a heart malformation which does not show clinical symptoms. It is recognisable in young patients with stroke (younger than 55 years old), if there is no other cause of stroke.

Aim:
The purpose of the study was to assess the incidence of patent foramen ovale in a group of young patients suffering a stroke before 55 years of age with migraine headaches.

Methods:
The research included 50 stroke patients younger than 55 (average age of 48, 21 females, 29 males). The patients were treated from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012 in the Stroke Unit of the Neurological Ward. The medical histories were analysed and the data including sex, age, the symptoms during admission to the ward, the results of the diagnostic tests that were performed and the applied therapy.

Results:
In the study group of young, stroke patients before 55 years of age, patent foramen ovale was recognized in 16% of the patients. The PFO incidence was especially high (83%) in young stroke patients with migraine headaches, representing 12% of the whole study group.

Conclusions:
The frequent occurrence of patent foramen ovale should lead to taking appropriate prophylactic measures using diagnostic echocardiography, especially in patients with migraine headaches and for example in balance tests for the young.