Reassessment of the association between gastrointestinal arteriovenous malformations and aortic stenosis

The purported association between aortic stenosis and gastrointestinal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has not been rigorously evaluated. The diagnosis of aortic stenosis in most the prior studies has been based on clinical examination. We therefore utilized two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography to document the presence or absence of aortic stenosis in 29 men with gastrointestinal AVMs documented by endoscopy.

Of the 29 patients studied, 22 (76 percent) had ejection systolic murmurs and 18 (62 percent) had echocardiographic evidence of aortic sclerosis. However, none of the patients had any evidence of aortic stenosis as assessed by Doppler echocardiography.

Although previous case reports and retrospective studies have suggested an association between gastrointestinal AVMs and aortic stenosis, our study does not support this association and suggests the need for a prospective trial.