Table 13.

Recommendations for the use of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants in primary and secondary prevention of cryptogenic stroke in patients with patent foramen ovale

Indications	Grade of recommendation	Level of evidence
Patients who are not indicated for anticoagulation for other reasons should be started on antiplatelet therapy as secondary prevention	I	B
Use of warfarin as a first choice following the first event	IIb	B
After a recurrent event while using antiplatelet agents, the use of warfarin with an INR goal between 2 and 3 should be considered	IIa	C
Use of Factor Xa inhibitors or thrombin inhibitors following the first event as an alternative to warfarin	IIb	C
Use of antiplatelet agents or anticoagulants as primary prevention	III	C

INR: international normalized ratio.