Arteriovenous Malformations

Also called: AVM

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are defects in your circulatory system. The circulatory system includes the arteries, veins and capillaries that carry blood to and from the heart. An AVM is a snarled tangle of arteries and veins. It interferes with the blood circulation in an organ. AVMs can happen anywhere, but the ones located in the brain or spinal cord can have effects such as seizures or headaches. However, most people with brain and spinal cord AVMs experience few, if any, significant symptoms.

The cause of AVMs is unknown, though they seem to develop during pregnancy or soon after birth. The greatest danger of an AVM is hemorrhage. Prevention can include surgery or focused irradiation therapy.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

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• Arteriovenous Malformation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews Diagnosis/Symptoms Treatment	Specific Conditions Related Issues	No links available
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Anatomy/Physiology Clinical Trials Genetics Journal Articles	Medical Encyclopedia Directories Organizations	Children

• Overviews
  • Arteriovenous Malformations and Other Vascular Lesions of the Central Nervous System(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

    Also available in Spanish

  • What Is an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)?(American Society of Neuroradiology) - Links to PDF
• Diagnosis/Symptoms
  • Angiogram(Society for Vascular Surgery)
  • Brain AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Treatment
  • Gamma-Knife Radiosurgery(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Specific Conditions
  • Arteriovenous Fistula(Merck & Co., Inc.)
  • Congenital Vascular Malformation: What Is It?(Vascular Disease Foundation)
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• Related Issues
  • Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS)(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
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• Anatomy/Physiology
  • Atlas of the Body: The Circulatory System -- Arterial(American Medical Association)
  • Atlas of the Body: The Circulatory System -- Venous(American Medical Association)
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• Clinical Trials
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Arteriovenous Malformations(National Institutes of Health)
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• Genetics
  • Genetics Home Reference: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia(National Library of Medicine)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Radiological and histopathological manifestations of hepatocellular nodular lesions concomitant with...
  • Article: Occlusion time for Amplatzer vascular plug in the management of...
  • Article: The persistent sciatic artery.
  • Arteriovenous Malformations -- see more articles
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• Medical Encyclopedia
  • Arteriovenous Malformations
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• Directories
  • Find a Vascular Specialist(Society for Vascular Surgery)
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• Organizations
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

    Also available in Spanish

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• Children
  • Arteriovenous Malformations(Children's Hospital Boston)
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• Related Topics

  • Blood, Heart and Circulation
  • Brain and Nerves
    
  
  
  • National Institutes of Health
  • • The primary NIH organization for research on Arteriovenous Malformations is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke