Characteristic of a dural arteriovenous fistulae (dAVF) producing symptoms of dementia

Sachio Suzuki¹⁾, Akira Kurata¹⁾, Satoshi Utsuki¹⁾, Kuniaki Nakahara¹⁾, Kazuhisa Iwamoto¹⁾,
Masaru Yamada¹⁾, Kiyotaka Fujii¹⁾, Shinichi Kan²⁾

¹⁾Department of Neurosurgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine,
²⁾Department of Radiology, Kitasato University School of Medicine

Dural arteriovenous fistulae (dAVF) are thought to play a causative role in dementia. Of 128 patients with dAVF treated at our hospital, 6 manifested dementia. We studied the role of the brain circulation and of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) perfusion disorder as etiologic factors in these 6 patients. Symptoms of dementia were presented with superior sagittal sinus- and transverse-sigmoid sinus dAVF. All patients manifested a high grade of cortical venous dilation and hydrocephalus on magnetic resonance images. We posit that the symptoms of dementia in these 6 patients were attributable to anomalies in the venous circulation and to CSF circulation disorders due to many arteriovenous shunts. The symptoms improved after treatment. Early diagnosis and early treatment are highly important in these patients.

Address correspondence to Dr.Sachio Suzuki, Department of Neurosurgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine(1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan)