Multiple Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations: An Unusual Cause of Shortness of Breath and Recurrent Strokes.

OBJECTIVE

To discuss an uncommon case of a patient with multiple pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) presenting with dyspnea on exertion and recurrent strokes.

BACKGROUND

A 79-year-old woman with recent onset recurrent cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) was referred to cardiology for evaluation of dyspnea on exertion. Clinical examination was unrevealing.

METHODS

A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) with agitated saline was suggestive of an extra-cardiac shunt. Subsequent chest computed tomographic angiography (CTA) demonstrated five large PAVMs.

RESULTS

The patient underwent transcatheter coil embolization of the five PAVMs, resulting in marked improvement in dyspnea and resolution of the shunt on bubble study echocardiography.

CONCLUSIONS

Although PAVMs are rare, they remain an important entity to consider when evaluating patients with extracardiac shunts. They may present with nonspecific features such as dyspnea on exertion and recurrent CVAs. All patients with multiple PAVMs should undergo thorough skin screening for telangiectasia as well as radiologic imaging to screen for additional AVMs in the liver and brain in order to exclude hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).