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Which arteriovenous malformations should be given ablative treatment?

Nature Clinical Practice Neurology volume 2, pages 2–3 (2006)Cite this article

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain are intracranial tangled anastomoses of arteries and veins, without intervening capillaries, in the brain parenchyma. AVMs account for 1–2% of all strokes, 4% of strokes in young adults, and 9% of subarachnoid hemorrhages. They are responsible for 4% of all primary intracerebral hemorrhages, rising to as many as 33% in young adults.1 Although intracerebral hemorrhage is the most feared complication, AVMs can also cause seizures, epilepsy and permanent focal neurological deficits.

There is little controversy over whether patients with AVMs that have bled should be treated. The risk of rebleeding can be as high as 18% in the first year,2 so early treatment is recommended, with the aim of totally obliterating the malformation whenever possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. fellow in interventional neuroradiology at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Michael Chen

  2. Harvard Medical School,

    Louis R Caplan

  3. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Louis R Caplan

Authors
  1. Michael Chen
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  2. Louis R Caplan
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Correspondence to Michael Chen.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Chen, M., Caplan, L. Which arteriovenous malformations should be given ablative treatment?. Nat Rev Neurol 2, 2–3 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpneuro0087

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