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Pathogenetical consideration of spontaneous dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs)
1Department of Neuroradiology, Kantonsspital Aarau, Switzerland.
Insights
Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) may develop due to venous thrombosis, leading to altered angiomorphologies. This study suggests DAVFs arise from a breakdown in dural microvascular autoregulation, influenced by venous outflow characteristics and the Venturi effect.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Surgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Sinus thrombosis is a debated etiological factor in dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs).
- Evidence suggests venous thrombosis can be acquired from DAVFs, challenging the causal relationship.
- The relationship between DAVF angiomorphology and venous outflow location requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that DAVF angiomorphologies correlate with venous outflow location.
- To develop a territorial classification of spontaneous DAVFs based on acquired development.
- To explore the role of dural microvascular autoregulation breakdown and venous thrombosis in DAVF formation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective and prospective review of clinical and radiographic findings in 96 patients with DAVFs.
- Detailed angiographic examination of lesion angiomorphology, focusing on venous characteristics.
- Assessment of associated phlebothrombosis via angiography, CT, or MRI; application of the Venturi effect principle.
Main Results:
- Venous thrombosis was identified in 51 cases.
- In non-thrombotic cases (98%), predisposing factors for phlebothrombosis were documented.
- Sinus wall deformations were observed in 78% of non-thrombotic cases, including hypoplasia and narrowing.
Conclusions:
- DAVFs likely develop subsequent to dural AV shunt autoregulation breakdown, triggered by venous thrombosis.
- The Venturi effect, influenced by arteriovenous pressure gradients, plays a role in acquired DAVF development.
- Angiomorphology is dependent on venous outflow location, supporting a territorial classification of spontaneous DAVFs.
Abstract:
Sinus thrombosis has been regarded as an aetiological factor in DAVFs. However, this claim has been disputed in the literature; because it is not possible to prove that DAVFs arise as a result of sinus thrombosis in all cases, and there is evidence that venous thrombosis can be acquired from a DAVF. The purpose of this study is to examine the hypothesis that the different angiomorphologies of DAVFs depend on the location of their venous outflow, and that a territorial classification of spontaneous DAVFs can be created which is based on their acquired development as a consequence of the breakdown of autoregulation of dural microvascularisation after venous thrombosis. The clinical and radiographic findings of 96 patients with DAVFs were reviewed. The angiomorphology of these lesions was examined using extensive prospective and retrospective angiographic studies, especially with regard to their venous characteristics. The associated phlebothrombosis of the venous outflow was determined in all cases by angiography, and in 8 cases by CT or MRI. We also applied the Venturi effect, a well-confirmed engineering principle, to propose a new hypothesis concerning the development of acquired DAVFs: namely, that there is an acceleration of the shunt volume of the physiological dural AVshunts afer a breakdown of their autoregulation occurs. This acceleration seems to be proportional to the flow volume of the venous outflow. The imaging examination showed venous thrombosis in 51 cases. In 98% (44) of the non-thrombotic cases, predisposing histories for phlebothrombosis were documented-for example, hypercoagulable states (venous embolism, phlebothrombosis of the leg, cardiac disease), diabetes mellitus, chronic otitis media, or various low-grade infections. In addition, in 78% of the non-thrombotic cases (excluding the DAVFs of the venous plexus at the base of the skull) there were also angiographically documented deformations of the sinus wall, including hypoplasia of the sigmoid or transverse sinus (20 cases), segmental narrowing of the sinus (8 cases), septation of the sinus lumen (2 cases), and cavernous nodules projecting into the lumen of the transverse (6 cases), sigmoid (4 cases), or sagittal (3 cases) sinuses. The clinical presentation suggested that DAVFs probably develop after a breakdown of the autoregulation of the physiological AV shunts resulting from a venous thrombosis, when there are suitable arteriovenous pressure gradients in the venous recipient. This development would depend on the haemodynamic action of the Venturi effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)