Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations presenting as difficult-to-control asthma: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Although pulmonary arteriovenous malformations are relatively rare disorders, they are an important part of the differential diagnosis of common pulmonary problems, such as hypoxemia, dyspnea on exertion and pulmonary nodules.


METHODS
An 11-year-old Croatian boy of Mediterranean origin with a history of asthma since childhood was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of difficult-to-control asthma during the previous six months. A chest X-ray showed a homogeneous soft tissue mass in the lingual area. Computed tomography angiography of the thorax showed two pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, one on each side of the lungs. Diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia was made clinically by Curaçao criteria. Genetic analysis revealed a mutation in the endoglin gene. The patient was treated with embolotherapy with good clinical outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
We present a case of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations masquerading as refractory asthma.
Reference Center for Clinical Allergology of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Srebrnjak Children's Hospital, Srebrnjak 100, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia. marta.navratil@gmail.com.
Marta
M
Navratil
Vinko
V
Vidjak
Filip
F
Rubić
Damir
D
Erceg
Mirjana
M
Turkalj