Arteriovenous Malformations of the Brain

Alternative Names

  • BAVM
  • Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations
  • Intracranial Hemorrhage in Brain Arteriovenous Malformations, Susceptibility to

Associated Genes

Interleukin 6
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WHO-ICD-10 version:2010

Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities

Congenital malformations of the circulatory system

OMIM Number

108010

Mode of Inheritance

Autosomal dominant

Gene Map Locus

7p15.3

Description

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) is a complex and intertwined network of poorly formed blood vessels (arteries and veins) that can occur in the brain, spinal cord or other parts of the body. AVM disrupts the normal blood flow in the affected region, causing oxygen deprivation in the surrounding tissues and weakening of blood vessels. Brain AVM is very rare and occur in less than 1% of the general population. Many patients with brain AVM may not display any signs or symptoms until the AVM ruptures, resulting in an intracranial hemorrhage. Brain AVM can lead to serious neurological problems such as paralysis, memory loss, vision loss or even death in some cases.

There are three main imaging techniques that are used to diagnose AVMs: cerebral angiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computerized tomography (CT scan). Treatment options for AVMs include surgery and radiation. Medications may also be used to treat related symptoms such as headaches and seizures.

Polymorphisms in the IL6 gene have been associated with brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVM).

Epidemiology in the Arab World

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Other Reports

Qatar

Nogueira (1992) studied spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage in Qatar and found that there were more AVMs than aneurysms among Qataris. The incidence of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhages was 2.69, while the incidence of ruptured aneurysms was 1.04 per 100,000 inhabitants/year.

Saudi Arabia

Ammar et al. (1992) studied the pattern of subarachnoid hemorrhage among Saudis. The AVM to aneurysm ratio was found to be 10:11 among Saudi citizens, and it was significantly different throughout the population in terms of sex.

Jamjoom et al. (1996) retrospectively studied 30 consecutive patients referred to King Khalid University Hospital between 1987 and 1994 with previously untreated cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The study group which comprised 17 males and 13 females, between 9 and 52 years of age, presented with intracranial hemorrhage or epilepsy. Surgical intervention was successful in 15 out of 19 cases, while rest of the 4 patients sustained severe neurological deterioration.

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