A Bradford man who has lived for 15 years with a life‑threatening arteriovenous malformation (AVM) deep in his brain has become the first patient in the UK to receive a new form of treatment, clinicians have said.
New option after other treatments exhausted
Zehair Ayub was diagnosed with an AVM in 2011. The abnormal tangle of vessels caused a large aneurysm that pressed on his optic nerves and led to seizures, right‑sided weakness and deteriorating vision. After a number of unsuccessful treatment attempts over many years, his care team in Leeds offered a different approach.
Between September 2025 and May 2026 Mr Ayub underwent four rounds of therapy under the care of consultant Dr Fathallah Islim at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Dr Islim, who completed a fellowship at a German centre taking part in the European trial of the agent, used a liquid embolic material identified in reports as ihtObtura to close the malformed vessels and prevent abnormal blood flow.
"When I was diagnosed, I was fit and healthy... Then almost overnight, everything changed."
The treatment is known to be reserved for AVMs that are otherwise considered untreatable, because the risks to patient and clinician can be substantial. Dr Islim said the material had helped to cure Mr Ayub's AVM and allowed him to regain aspects of his life.
What the therapy involves
- AVMs are abnormal connections between arteries and veins where capillaries are absent, risking catastrophic bleeding.
- The liquid embolic agent is injected into the affected vessels to occlude them and halt dangerous blood flow.
- The method carries high procedural risks and is typically considered only when other options have failed.
Mr Ayub said he "took a chance" on the therapy and had "complete confidence in the team". He described a dramatic change from his previous active lifestyle: prior to diagnosis he played football and cricket, went to the gym and ran a business. The condition, and the prospect of a catastrophic haemorrhage, upended that life.
Local and regional significance
The case is significant for Bradford and the wider West Yorkshire region. It highlights the role of specialist services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and the importance of clinical fellowships and cross‑border collaboration in advancing treatment options for rare neurological conditions.
For local patients living with complex vascular lesions, the trial experience and the use of novel materials may offer hope where conventional surgery, radiosurgery or endovascular techniques have been unsuccessful. Clinicians caution that outcomes depend on individual anatomy, the size and location of the AVM, and the risks inherent in manipulating fragile vessels deep within the brain.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Patient | Zehair Ayub, Bradford |
| Diagnosis | Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) with large aneurysm |
| Treatment period | September 2025 – May 2026 (four rounds) |
| Lead clinician | Dr Fathallah Islim, Leeds Teaching Hospitals |
| Material used | ihtObtura (liquid embolic agent) |
Specialist teams across Yorkshire and the Humber will be watching how patients respond to such therapies as longer term follow‑up data becomes available. For Mr Ayub, the immediate consequence has been a reduction in the risk of a catastrophic bleed and the prospect of improved neurological function.
While the treatment is not a universal solution for all AVMs, the successful application in this Bradford case demonstrates how regional centres with access to advanced training and trial experience can expand options for patients with rare and complex conditions.
