Lack of correlation between cerebral arteriovenous malformation angioarchitectural and hemodynamic characteristics and systemic inflammation.

Abstract

Plasma-based inflammatory biomarkers have gained attention in cerebrovascular pathologies, with studies suggesting links to high-risk features. This study investigates the association between systemic inflammatory markers and cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) angioarchitectural and hemodynamic characteristics. A single-center database of AVM patients (2007-2023) was queried. Patients with unruptured, supratentorial AVMs, baseline quantitative magnetic resonance angiography, and complete blood counts at admission were included. Biomarkers analyzed included white blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute monocyte count (AMC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), and platelet count. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic inflammation index (SII) were calculated. AVM characteristics and hemodynamic properties were assessed. 86 patients met inclusion criteria. No significant correlations were found between systemic inflammatory markers and AVM size, morphology, venous stenosis, or Spetzler-Martin grade. While WBC count and ANC weakly correlated with flow index (p < 0.05), AVM flow showed no consistent associations with inflammatory markers. Systemic inflammatory markers do not consistently correlate with unruptured AVM angioarchitecture or hemodynamics. These findings suggest systemic inflammation may have limited relevance to sporadic AVM pathology. Future studies should explore localized inflammatory biomarkers to better understand AVM behavior.