Arteriovenous Malformations Summary Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are defects in your vascular system. The vascular system includes arteries, veins, and capillaries. Arteries carry blood away from the heart to other organs; veins carry blood back to the heart. Capillaries connect the arteries and veins. An AVM is a snarled tangle of arteries and veins. They are connected to each other, with no capillaries. That interferes with the blood circulation in an organ. AVMs can happen anywhere, but they are more common in the brain or spinal cord. Most people with brain or spinal cord AVMs have few, if any, major symptoms. Sometimes they can cause seizures or headaches. AVMs are rare. The cause is not known, but they seem to develop during pregnancy or soon after birth. Doctors use imaging tests to detect them. Medicines can help with the symptoms from AVMs. The greatest danger is hemorrhage. Treatment for AVMs can include surgery or focused radiation therapy. Because surgery can be risky, you and your doctor need to make a decision carefully. NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Specifics Arteriovenous Fistula Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Brain AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCM) Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network Congenital Vascular Malformation Vascular Disease Foundation Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia – HHT Society of Interventional Radiology Start Here Arteriovenous Malformation National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Arteriovenous Malformations and Other Vascular Lesions of the Central Nervous System National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke What Is an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)? American Stroke Association Diagnosis and Tests Catheter Angiography Array CT Angiography (CTA) Array MR Angiography (MRA) Array Ultrasound — Vascular Array Treatments and Therapies Catheter Embolization Array Gamma-Knife Radiosurgery Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Intracranial Vascular Treatments Array Array Cerebral angiography Cerebral arteriovenous malformation Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Arteriovenous Malformations National Institutes of Health Genetics Genetics Home Reference: capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Parkes Weber syndrome National Library of Medicine Related Issues Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) and Pulmonary Hypertension Pulmonary Hypertension Association Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Find an Expert National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Journal Articles Arteriovenous Malformations Encyclopedia Stereotactic radiosurgery – discharge
