This does not mean that everyone who has PFO will experience a stroke or mini-stroke. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) or hole in the heart, affects millions of people and can cause a stroke.In addition, PFO closure could be helpful but also could be harmful (arrhythmogenic). Some studies have found that patent foramen ovales (PFOs) are more common in people with unexplained strokes and migraines with aura. While PFO may not be causing immediate health issues, it's important to have it treated before it becomes an urgent problem. A PFO is more likely to be involved in a stroke of a younger adult. That's because younger people don't have as many risk factors for stroke from other causes. PFO can occasionally result in complications. The most serious of these is stroke. In adults, the rate of PFO is greater in people who have had a stroke with no known cause, particularly in people younger than 55.