Dabigatran versus aspirin for stroke prevention after cryptogenic stroke with patent foramen ovale: A prospective study

•Dabigatran better lowered the reoccurrence of TIA/stroke and systemic embolism for patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale.•There no differences on the cardiovascular events between dabigatran group and aspirin group.•As compared to aspirin, dabigatran did not increase the risk of bleeding complications in the population.