Demographic, morphological, and clinical characteristics of 1289 patients with brain arteriovenous malformation

The purpose of this study was to assess demographic, clinical, and morphological characteristics of patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Prospectively collected data of 1289 consecutive AVM patients from 3 independent databases (1 multicenter [Berlin/Paris/Middle and Far East, n=662] and 2 single centers [New York, n=337, and Toronto, n=290]) were analyzed. The variables assessed were age at diagnosis, sex, AVM size, AVM drainage pattern, AVM location in functionally important brain areas ("eloquence"), and type of presentation (hemorrhage, seizure, chronic headache, or focal neurologic deficit). Comparisons were made by ANOVA, contingency tables, and log-linear models. Overall, mean age at diagnosis was 31.2 years (95% CI 30.2 to 32.2 years), and 45% of the patients were female (95% CI 42% to 47%). AVM maximum diameter was