AVM (blood vessel malformation)
- Article
- 2021-03-02
Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are abnormal, tangled tangles of blood vessels that cause multiple irregular connections between the arteries and veins. These malformations most often occur in the spinal cord and in any part of the brain or on its surface, but can develop elsewhere in the body. AVMs can damage the brain and spinal cord by reducing the amount of oxygen reaching neurological tissues, by bleeding into surrounding tissue (hemorrhage) that can cause stroke or brain damage, and by compressing or compressing parts of the brain or spinal cord to be moved. Many people with AVM experience few or no significant symptoms, including headache, weakness, seizures, pain, and problems with speech, vision, or movement. Most of the time AVMs are congenital, but they can occur sporadically. In some cases, the AVM can be inherited, but other inherited conditions are more likely to increase the risk of an AVM. The malformations are usually discovered only incidentally, usually during the treatment of an unrelated condition or at autopsy.
Therapy
Treatment options depend on the type of AVM, its location, noticeable symptoms, and the individual's general health. Medication can often relieve common symptoms such as headaches, back pain, and seizures caused by AVMs and other vascular lesions. The definitive treatment for AVMs is either surgery to remove the AVM or create an artificial blood clot to close the lesion, or targeted radiation treatment designed to damage the blood vessel walls and close the lesion. The decision to treat an AVM requires careful consideration of potential benefits versus risks.
Prognosis
The biggest potential danger from AVMs is bleeding. Most bleeding episodes go unnoticed when they occur because they are not severe enough to cause significant neurological damage. But massive, even fatal, bleeding episodes do occur. Whenever an AVM is detected, the individual should be carefully and consistently monitored for signs of instability that could indicate an increased risk of bleeding. Subjects undergoing treatment need post-brain imaging to assess whether the AVM has been completely removed or destroyed. The risk of bleeding remains if part of the AVM persists despite treatment.
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