Brain abscess: a need to screen for pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are direct connections between an artery and a vein in the pulmonary circulation associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia in up to 88% of cases. Patients with PAVMs are at increased risk of brain abscess (BA). This study aimed to provide preliminary data on the prevalence of PAVMs among BA patients.


METHODS
Administrative hospital discharge forms were used to identify patients with BA; possible PAVM patients were screened.


RESULTS
126 patients with BA were identified. Two patients had undiagnosed PAVMs at the time of admission for BA. The age-adjusted incidence of BA was 6.3 cases/1 million/year, with a male:female ratio of 2.0.


CONCLUSIONS
Although PAVMs are rare conditions, they play a role in the development of BA. PAVMs are usually not recognized at the time of BA, thus exposing patients to life-threatening risks.
Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, Internal Medicine 'A. Murri', University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Mauro
M
Gallitelli
Vito
V
Lepore
Giovanna
G
Pasculli
Leonardo
L
Di Gennaro
Giancarlo
G
Logroscino
Aristide
A
Carella
Robert Ingersoll
RI
White
Carlo
C
Sabbà
D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D012737:Sex Factors; D013683:Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology