Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation can be Associated with Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS)
  • Mariana Barros Cruz
    Internal Medicine Service, Centro Hospitalar Tâmega e Sousa, Penafiel, Portugal
  • Nuno Palma
    Internal Medicine Service, Centro Hospitalar Tâmega e Sousa, Penafiel, Portugal
  • Joao Rocha
    Neurology Service, Centro Hospitalar Tâmega e Sousa, Penafiel, Portugal
  • Ricardo Meireles
    Internal Medicine Service, Centro Hospitalar Tâmega e Sousa, Penafiel, Portugal

Keywords

Idiopathic pulmonary arteriovenous malformation, embolic stroke, extra-cardiac shunt

Abstract

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are rare vascular anomalies. Alternative designations are pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae or aneurysms. Although mostly asymptomatic, PAVMs can cause respiratory symptoms due to right-to-left shunt. The central nervous system is a potential target for complications, including stroke, as a result of paradoxical embolism. In this report, the authors describe an unusual case of cerebral emboli caused by paradoxical embolism through a PAVM, presenting with a broad pathology including orthodeoxia, central cyanosis and digital clubbing, which should be kept in mind since misdiagnosis may cause severe morbidity in young adults.

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    Published: 2019-11-06
    Issue: Vol 6 No 11 (view)

    How to cite:
    1.
    Cruz MB, Palma N, Rocha J, Meireles R. Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation can be Associated with Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS). EJCRIM 2019;6 doi:10.12890/2019_001262.

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