Transcatheter embolotherapy of maternal pulmonary arteriovenous malformations during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if transcatheter embolotherapy is safe and effective for the treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations during pregnancy.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Specialized hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia centers at Yale University School of Medicine and St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto.


METHODS
Seven pregnant women (age range, 24 to 34 years; gestational age range, 16 to 36 weeks) undergoing transcatheter embolotherapy.


METHODS
Transcatheter embolotherapy in all patients.


RESULTS
Thirteen pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in seven patients were embolized with detachable silicone balloons and/or stainless steel coils without incident. The estimated fetal radiation dose ranged from < 50 to 220 mrad. No complications of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations occurred in any of the patients after transcatheter embolotherapy. The mothers went on to deliver healthy babies in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Transcatheter embolotherapy of maternal pulmonary arteriovenous malformations performed by an experienced radiologist appears to be safe and effective after 16 weeks of gestational age.
Gershon
A S
AS
Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Faughnan
M E
ME
Chon
K S
KS
Pugash
R A
RA
Clark
J A
JA
Bohan
M J
MJ
Henderson
K J
KJ
Hyland
R H
RH
White
R I
RI
D000328:Adult; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000628:therapy*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000628:therapy*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000002:abnormalities*