title: Pulmonary arterovenous malformation causing hemothorax in a pregnant woman without Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome.
abstract: Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs), although most commonly congenital, are usually detected later in life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of a 19-year-old woman with no previous history of AVM or telangiectasia, who presented dyspnea and hypoxia by massive left hemothorax in the 34th week of gestation. After emergent cesarean delivery, a chest computed tomography (CT) with i.v. contrast showed a likely 3 cm area of active contrast in left lower lung. Chest tube placement revealed about 2 liters of blood. The patient was subsequently found to have pulmonary AVM. A successful embolisation of AVM followed by lung atipic resection involving AVM and decortication for lung re-expansion were the treatments provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with known pulmonary AVM should be maximally treated prior to becoming pregnant, and the physician should be alert to complications of pulmonary AVM during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Crescenzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Thoracic Surgery Unit, University of Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Respiratory Disease, University of Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vatrella
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pathology Unit, University of Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Pio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zeppa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Thoracic Surgery Unit, University of Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laperuta
keywords: Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome; Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations; pregnant woman