Curative Glubran 2 Embolization of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations Patient Selection and Initial Results

The liquid embolic agents currently used for embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations are Onyx and NBCA. Glubran 2, a cyanoacrylate-based synthetic glue, has recently been applied for embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). We report the clinical results of selected cerebral AVMs treated with Glubran 2 targeting for curative embolization.

Between October 2011 and March 2013, 31 patients with cerebral AVMs were selected for curative embolization with Glubran 2. There were 19 men and 12 women with a mean age of 32 years (range 4–65 years). Initial clinical presentation included hemorrhage in 28 and seizures in three patients. AVM location was frontal in eight patients, parietal in four, occipital in eight temporal in six, cerebellar in two and cerebellar vermis in three patients. Follow-up was performed clinically and with angiography examination at three to six months. Clinical outcomes were evaluated based on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

A mean of 2.5 (range, 1–12) feeding pedicles were embolized per patient. Complete angiographic obliteration of AVM was achieved in 27 patients. A hemorrhagic complication was observed in one patient, an ischemic complication in one patient and technical complications in four patients. There was no procedure-related disabling neurological deficit or death at discharge. Additional gamma knife radiosurgery was performed in five patients, including one patient with recurrent AVM. All of the patients had favorable clinical outcomes at three to six month follow-up (mRS≤2).

The curative embolization technique with Glubran 2 for selected cerebral AVMs achieved a high initial complete obliteration rate with an acceptable complication frequency.