Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula
Definition
Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula is a condition in which an abnormal connection (fistula) develops between an artery and vein in the lungs. As a result, blood passes through the lungs without receiving enough oxygen.
Alternative Names
Arteriovenous malformation - pulmonaryCauses
Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas are birth defects that result when the blood vessels of the lung do not develop normally.
Patients with Rendu-Osler-Weber disease (ROWD), also called hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasis (HHT), frequently have abnormal blood vessel development at many sites in the body, including the lungs, brain, nasal passages, liver, and gastrointestinal organs. This condition is slightly more common in women than in men.
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