An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a tangle where arteries connect straight to veins, skipping the capillaries that normally slow the blood down. Many cause no symptoms at all and turn up on a scan ordered for something else.

October is AVM Awareness Month.

Cure HHT is partnering with The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation to share a new resource about one of the most common HHT characteristics: AVMs.

Swipe through to learn more about AVMs or view the full infographic below.

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O C T O B E R · A V M A W A R E N E S S M O N T H AVMs can be silent. Know the signs. An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a tangle where arteries connect straight to veins, skipping the capillaries that normally slow the blood down. Many cause no symptoms at all and turn up on a scan ordered for something else.
AVMs can form anywhere blood vessels do Brain Lungs Liver Spine Gastrointestinal tract Where the AVM sits determines what it does, and how it is found. Signs of a brain or spinal AVM Headache Seizure Weakness Numbness or tingling Vision changes Balance or coordination problems Language changes Memory problems or confusion
AVMs elsewhere show up differently Liver fatigue, shortness of breath on exertion, strain on the heart Gastrointestinal tract bleeding and iron-defciency anemia Lungs shortness of breath, low blood oxygen, or a stroke or brain abscess with no clear cause Sometimes the first sign is a bleed 50% In about 50% of people with a brain AVM, a sudden hemorrhage is how it announces itself. That is the case for nding one rst.
How AVMs are found Imaging is the only way to diagnose an AVM. There is no blood test for it. CT fast, and the best rst look for bleeding MRI / MRA detailed images that show an AVM and where it sits Angiogram maps the vessels and the blood ow through them; the gold standard Contrast echocardiogram the bubble study used to screen for AVMs in the lungs
When AVMs run in the family Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic condition that causes AVMs, most often in the lungs, brain, and liver. It also causes recurring nosebleeds and telangiectasia—the small dilated blood vessels that appear on the lips, ngertips, and inside the nose. HHT is inherited. A parent who has it has a 50% chance of passing it to each child. An AVM plus nosebleeds, or an AVM plus a family history, is a reason to ask about HHT. Screening nds AVMs in the lungs and brain before they bleed.
Know the signs. Ask the question. Get screened. Remain visible. curehht.org · taafonline.org #AVMAwarenessMonth #HHT