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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
A brain AVM (arteriovenous malformation) often causes no signs or symptoms until the AVM ruptures, resulting in bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage).
Signs and symptoms of a brain AVM include:
- Seizures
- A whooshing sound (bruit) that can be heard on examination of the skull with a stethoscope
- Pulsing noise in the head (pulsatile tinnitus)
- Headache
- Progressive weakness or numbness
When bleeding into the brain occurs, signs and symptoms can be similar to a stroke and may include:
- Sudden, severe headache
- Weakness or numbness
- Vision loss
- Difficulty speaking
- Inability to understand others
- Severe unsteadiness
A bleeding brain AVM is life-threatening and requires emergency medical attention.
Symptoms may begin at any age, but you're more likely to experience symptoms before age 50. Brain AVM can damage brain tissue over time. The effects slowly build up, sometimes causing symptoms in early adulthood. Once you reach middle age, however, brain AVMs tend to remain stable and are less likely to cause symptoms.
For women, pregnancy may start or worsen symptoms because of the increased blood flow and blood volume during pregnancy.
When to see a doctor
If you notice any signs or symptoms of a brain AVM, get medical help right away.
- Chung CS, et al. Stroke and other neurovascular disorders. In: Goetz CG. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/113422743-8/782331384/1488/384.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3618-0..10045-1--s0670_3824. Accessed Dec. 11, 2008.
- Arteriovenous malformations and other vascular lesions of the central nervous system fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/avms/detail_avms.htm. Accessed Dec. 11, 2008.
- Higashida RT. What is an arteriovenous malformation (AVM)? American Stroke Association. http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/stroke/1095279678689What_Is_an_Arteriovenous_Malformation_Final%20Science%20review%206-03-03%20vF3.pdf. Accessed Dec. 11, 2008.
- Singer RJ, et al. Brain arteriovenous malformations. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 11, 2008.
- Aminoff MJ. Nervous system disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=12814. Accessed Dec. 11, 2008
