Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) | Boston Children's Hospital
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Published 2016-09-19
Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) are abnormal connections between arteries and veins that are congenital (present at birth).
They don't have the normal network of tiny vessels (capillaries) that connects arteries and veins.
Intracranial (within the head) AVMs have no visible symptoms. However, they may cause headaches or sudden bleeding into the brain.
AVMs are relatively rare birth defects. They occur approximately once in every 500 births. AVMs are more common in the brain than in other regions. The cause of AVMs is unknown.
No known food, medication, or activity during pregnancy can cause an AVM.
Whether you’re a parent of a child with cerebrovascular disease, a young adult seeking a second opinion, or a physician seeking a consultation and possible referral, we hope you’ll consider Boston Children’s. We treat more children with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) than any other center in the world, including rare childhood vascular disorders virtually never seen elsewhere.
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