Diffuse Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistulas With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Case Report and Review

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas (PAVFs) are rare. Diffuse type PAVFs with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are even rarer and can elude anatomy imaging like a plain chest film or a computed tomography. The rapid blood flow that ensues due to lack of a capillary bed leads to various degrees of ischemia depending on the number and size of the PAVF. This is a case report of diffuse PAVF in a patient with PAH. This case report describes a patient with recurrent hemoptysis and chest pain. Systemic examination was unremarkable except for P2 attenuation on auscultation. Echocardiograghy showed confirmed pulmonary hypertension with mild dilation of right atrium and ventricle and a tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient of 40 mm Hg and ruled out congenital heart diseases. Right heart catheterization revealed precapillary PAH with mean pulmonary arterial pressure of 88 mm Hg. Pulmonary angiography showed enlarged pulmonary arterial trunk and diffuse spiral tortuous pulmonary arterial branches indicting diffuse PAVFs. The patient was diagnosed as PAH and began treatment of 25 mg tid of sildenafil. The case highlights a rare and unique presentation of PAH.