Experimental Animal Models of Arteriovenous Malformation: A Review

Abstract

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital lesions that cause brain haemorrhage in children and young adults. Current treatment modalities include surgery, radiosurgery and embolization. These treatments are generally effective only for small AVMs. Over one third of AVMs cannot be treated safely and effectively with existing options. Several animal models have been developed with the aims of understanding AVM pathophysiology and improving treatment. No animal model perfectly mimics a human AVM. Each model has limitations and advantages. Models contribute to the understanding of AVMs and hopefully to the development of improved therapies. This paper reviews animal models of AVMs and their advantages and disadvantages.

Endovascular embolization of canine hepatic arteriovenous malformations using precipitating hydrophobic injectable liquid (PHIL) liquid embolic agent: a proof of concept study

“…In dogs, the communication is between the hepatic artery and portal vein, whereas in humans, communication is typically between the hepatic artery and hepatic vein. (Raj, 2015) As PHIL has been successfully used in the treatment of cerebral and spinal arteriovenous fistulas in humans, its use may be extended to treating hepatic AVMs in the paediatric population. There are a lack of trials exploring the use of PHIL in the human paediatric population, with patients treated with PHIL for cerebral AVMs having a mean age of 58.…”

Arteriovenous Malformations—Current Understanding of the Pathogenesis with Implications for Treatment

“…Studies recapitulating characteristic clinical features of AVMs in animal models have started to unravel causal factors of AVM pathology and to some extent informed clinical care. Advantages and disadvantages of each animal model are discussed in great details elsewhere [71,72], we here focus on important insights the community has gained from experimental animal studies.…”

“…Surgical animal models have been helpful particularly in refining endovascular and radiosurgical techniques used in the clinic [71]. Radiosurgery primarily has two applications in this context.…”

Liquid embolic agent Fe3O4-EVOH for endovascular arteriovenous malformation embolisation: Preliminary evaluation in an in vivo swine rete mirabile model

“…The RM is a suitable model for the development of endovascular techniques and trialling new embolic agents. 6 Therefore, in this study, we used a swine cerebral AVM model to evaluate the injectability, mechanical stability and biocompatibility of Fe 3 O 4 -EVOH liquid for AVM embolisation.…”