Arterial embolisation and coiling for high-output heart failure and pulmonary hypertension induced by hepatic arteriovenous fistula in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic elengiectasia

Abstract

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic vascular disorder characterised by epistaxis, telangiectases, and visceral arteriovenous malformations. Hyperdynamic blood flow associated with arteriovenous malformations may lead to pulmonary hypertension, global heart failure, and valvular insufficiencies. We report a patient who had HHT with severe heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III-IV) and pulmonary hypertension caused by an hepatic arteriovenous fistula. After successful transarterial embolisation of the right branch of the hepatic artery with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles and coils, 4 to 7 mm in size, the patient was discharged with functional class II (NYHA) heart failure. © 2009 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.