Hypertension, small size, and deep venous drainage are associated with risk of hemorrhagic presentation of cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

Publication/Presentation Date

3-1-1998

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical and angiographic factors of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) associated with hemorrhage to improve the estimation of the risks and help guide management in clinical decision making.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive adults who have presented during the past 3 years to our institution with cerebral AVMs. Angiographic and clinical parameters were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis to analyze factors associated with hemorrhagic presentation.

RESULTS: The group had a mean age of 37.8 years; 53% were men, 48% presented with intracranial hemorrhage, and 40% presented with seizures. All 10 patients with cerebellar AVMs presented with hemorrhage. The following factors were independently associated with AVM hemorrhage: history of hypertension (P = 0.019; odds ratio [OR] = 5.36), nidal diameter(P = 0.023: OR = 4.60), and deep venous drainage (P = 0.009: OR = 5.77). Dural arterial supply (P = 0.008; OR = 0.15) was independently associated with decreased risk of bleed. Location, nidal aneurysms, patient age, and smoking were not associated with increased or decreased bleeding risk.

CONCLUSION: In this study, we found small AVM size and deep venous drainage to be positively associated with AVM hemorrhage. Dural supply was associated with a decreased likelihood of hemorrhagic presentation. Hypertension was found to be the only clinical factor positively associated with hemorrhage, a finding not previously reported. Smoking, although associated with increased risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, was not associated with a higher risk of AVM hemorrhage.

Volume

42

Issue

3

First Page

481

Last Page

486

ISSN

0148-396X

Disciplines

Diagnosis | Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Radiology

PubMedID

9526981

Department(s)

Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Medical Imaging

Document Type

Article

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