Hospital Virtual Tour

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula - Symptom

Alternative Names

Arteriovenous malformation - pulmonary

Symptoms:

Many people have no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can include:

Bloody sputum
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty exercising
Nosebleeds (in patients with HHT)
Shortness of breath with exertion

Other possible symptoms include:

A murmur heard with a stethoscope placed over the abnormal blood vessel
Abscesses or infections of the heart valves
Blue skin (cyanosis)
Clubbing of the fingers

Signs and tests:

High red blood cell count
Low blood oxygen level

Tests include:

Reviewed last on: 9/13/2008
Benjamin Medoff, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Bernstein D. Other Congenital Heart and Vascular Malformations. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 432.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)