Outcome after interventional or conservative management of unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations: a prospective, population-based cohort study

Summary Background The decision about whether to treat an unruptured brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) depends on a comparison of the estimated lifetime risk of intracranial haemorrhage with the risks of interventional treatment. We aimed to test whether outcome differs between adults who had interventional AVM treatment and those who did not. Methods All adults in Scotland who were first diagnosed with an unruptured AVM during 1999–2003 (n=114) entered our prospective, population-based study. We compared the baseline characteristics and 3-year outcome of adults who received interventional treatment for their AVM (n=63) with those who did not (n=51). Findings At presentation, adults who were treated were younger (mean 40 vs 55 years of age, 95% CI for difference 9–20; p