Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula

Many patients have no symptoms. Some patients have difficulty breathing, shortness of breath with exertion, difficulty exercising, or bloody sputum. Nosebleeds may occur in patients with HHT.

Other symptoms that may occur include blue skin (cyanosis), clubbing of the fingers (enlargement of the tips of the fingers), and a murmur heard with a stethoscope placed over the malformation.

• The oxygen saturation level in the blood is low.
• There may be an abnormally high red blood cell count.
• A chest radiograph usually reveals the abnormal blood vessels.
• A chest CT scan confirms the presence of the abnormal blood vessels.
• A pulmonary arteriogram (motion picture X-rays taken after the injection of dye) is used to make a "road map" of the abnormal blood vessels before surgery or other treatments.

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