How do arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) cause harm?

How do arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) cause harm?

AVMs cause harm in the following ways:

• Bleeding. Bleeding into surrounding tissue can cause permanent damage. If significant bleeding occurs, it can result in death.
• Pressing on and displacing anatomical parts. An abnormal connection results in more blood in your veins. Veins can get big and press on nearby tissue. This not only prevents oxygenation, but it will also impact draining through your lymphatic system.
• Depleting tissues of needed oxygen. Because there’s no capillary bridge between arteries and veins, oxygen and nutrients don’t get to the tissue where there’s an AVM. The tissue and nerve cells at that site can die.