What is Moyamoya?

In conjunction with the extensive research at Baylor College of Medicine, the physicians at St. Luke’s Health–Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center are leading the way in diagnosis and treatment of rare, progressive cerebrovascular conditions like Moyamoya.

Moyamoya Disease is a cerebrovascular condition that is characterized by the narrowing of carotid arteries, which supply blood to many of the important areas of the brain. This narrowing causes the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain to slow down and increases the risk of a blood clot, which can ultimately cause a stroke or a transient ischemic attack, otherwise known as a “mini-stroke.”

In research studies from 2002 to 2011, a team of physicians at CHISLH-BSLMC worked to describe the characterization of MMD in diverse populations in Houston. They found during the study that their adult patients had an very high prevalence of watershed ischemia, strokes often caused by low blood flow due to blockages in neck arteries or incidences of poor cardiac performance.

St. Luke’s Health–Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is continuing to provide advanced care for patients with neurological conditions. Learn more about our NeuroScience Center and the different conditions our experts treat here.

Sources:

• NCBI
• American Heart Association
• NINDS
• Boston Children's Hospital
• University of Florida