Massive haemoptysis in pregnancy

Abstract

Haemoptysis in pregnancy may be due to a myriad of causes, including pulmonary embolism, heart failure, vasculitides and infective or post-infective aetiologies. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are a rare cause of massive haemoptysis that involve an abnormal communication between the pulmonary arteries and the pulmonary veins. The majority of PAVMs are congenital and associated with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). To illustrate the complexity of the diagnosis and management of PAVM in pregnancy, we report the case of a 32-year-old woman presenting with massive haemoptysis at 36 weeks of gestation.