Moyamoya disease: report of three cases in Brazilian patients

RESUMO

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic occlusive cerebrovascular disease of unknown etiology reported mainly in the Japanese. Most cases occur in children. The disease is rare in non-Oriental adults manifesting itself mostly as intracerebral hemorrhages. We describe MMD in 2 non-Oriental young adults and one adolescent that developed cerebral infarctions. The adults were medicated with aspirin and no medication was given to the adolescent. All patients did not deteriorate in a follow-up period from 1 to 4 years. Although rare, MMD is na important cause of stroke in young individuals and may well be underreported only 18 patients have been reported till 1997 in Brazil. Neurologists should include MMD in differential diagnosis of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes in young adults.