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NINDS Arteriovenous Malformation Information Page

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Condensed from Arteriovenous Malformations and Other Vascular Lesions of the Central Nervous System Fact Sheet

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What is Arteriovenous Malformation?

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are defects of the circulatory system that are generally believed to arise during embryonic or fetal development or soon after birth.  Although AVMs can develop in many different sites, those located in the brain or spinal cord can have especially widespread effects on the body.  Most people with neurological AVMs experience few, if any, significant symptoms.  The malformations tend to be discovered only incidentally, usually either at autopsy or during treatment for an unrelated disorder. But for about 12 percent of the affected population (about 36,000 of the estimated 300,000 Americans with AVMs), these abnormalities cause symptoms that vary greatly in severity.

Is there any treatment?

Medication can often alleviate general symptoms such as headache, back pain, and seizures caused by AVMs and other vascular lesions. However, the definitive treatment for AVMs is either surgery or focused irradiation therapy.  The decision to perform surgery on any individual with an AVM requires a careful consideration of possible benefits versus risks. 

What is the prognosis?

The greatest potential danger posed by AVMs is hemorrhage. Researchers believe that each year between 2 and 4 percent of all AVMs hemorrhage. Most episodes of bleeding remain undetected at the time 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 any signs of instability that may indicate an increased risk of hemorrhage.

What research is being done?

 

NIH Patient Recruitment for Arteriovenous Malformation Clinical Trials

Organizations

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 1968
(55 Kenosia Avenue)
Danbury, CT   06813-1968
orphan@rarediseases.org
http://www.rarediseases.org
Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673)
Fax: 203-798-2291

 International RadioSurgery Association
3002 N. Second Street
Harrisburg, PA   17110
office1@irsa.org
http://www.irsa.org
Tel: 717-260-9808
Fax: 717-260-9809
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
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Last updated October 19, 2009