Brain Arteriovenous Malformation Multiplicity Predicts the Diagnosis of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: Quantitative Assessment

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively estimate the relationship between multiplicity of brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) and the diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). We combined databases from 2 large North American bAVM referral centers, including demographics, clinical presentation, and angiographic characteristics, and compared patients with HHT with non-HHT patients. Logistic regression analysis was performed to quantify the association between bAVM multiplicity and odds of HHT diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated to determine accuracy of bAVM multiplicity for screening HHT. Prevalence of HHT was 2.8% in the combined group. bAVM multiplicity was present in 39% of patients with HHT and was highly associated with diagnosis of HHT in univariate (OR, 83; 95% CI, 40-173; P