title: Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation unmasked in pregnancy: A case report.
abstract: Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations are anomalous communications between arteries and veins of the pulmonary vasculature. Its incidence is rare. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations can be asymptomatic or cause profound cardiovascular compromise and adverse neurological sequelae, as a result of right to left shunting of deoxygenated blood. Pregnancy and its physiological demands can unmask and exacerbate pulmonary arteriovenous malformations with attendant risks of life threatening complications and rarely, death. This case report describes a first presentation of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation in pregnancy and the tendency for misdiagnosis with pulmonary embolism. A multidisciplinary approach to management is pertinent considering the challenges involved in deciding the appropriate therapeutic management in pregnancy which has to be weighed against potential maternal and fetal risks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Kent, UK.
authors.forename: Sheba Reshmi
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Anin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Kent, UK.
authors.forename: Wunmi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ogunnoiki
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Tarun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sabharwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harrison-Phipps
keywords: Hypoxia Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation; Maternal-fetal medicine; high-risk Pregnancy; transcatheter embolisation