Comparison of clinical outcomes and characteristics between patients with and without hypertension in moyamoya disease

Multi-parameter MRI-Based Machine Learning Model to Evaluate the Efficacy of STA-MCA Bypass Surgery for Moyamoya Disease: A Pilot Study

Superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass surgery represents the primary treatment for Moyamoya disease (MMD), with its efficacy contingent upon collateral vessel development. This study aimed to develop and validate a machine learning (ML) model for the non-invasive assessment of STA-MCA bypass surgery efficacy in MMD. This study enrolled 118 MMD patients undergoing STA-MCA bypass surgery. Clinical features were screened to construct a clinical model. MRI features were extracted from the middle cerebral artery supply area using 3D Slicer and employed to build five ML models using logistic regression algorithm. The combined model was developed by integrating the radiomics score (Rad-score) with the clinical features. Model performance validation was conducted using ROC curves. Platelet count (PLT) was identified as a significant clinical feature for constructing the clinical model. A total of 3404 features (851 × 4) were extracted, and 15 optimal features were selected from each MRI sequence as predictive factors. Multivariable logistic regression identified PLT and Rad-score as independent parameters used for constructing the combined model. In the testing set, the AUC of the T1WI ML model [0.84 (95% CI, 0.70-0.97)] was higher than that of the clinical model [0.66 (95% CI, 0.46-0.86)] and the combined model [0.80 (95% CI, 0.66-0.95)]. The T1WI ML model can be used to assess the postoperative efficacy of STA-MCA bypass surgery for MMD.

Vascular risk profile and changes of arterial hypertension after surgical revascularization in adult Moyamoya patients

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare stenoocclusive cerebral vasculopathy often treated by neurosurgical revascularization using extracranial-intracranial bypasses to prevent ischemic or hemorrhagic events. Little is known about the vascular risk profile of adult MMD patients compared to the general population. We therefore analyzed 133 adult MMD patients and compared them with data from more than 22,000 patients from the German Health Update database. Patients with MMD showed an age- and sex-adjusted increased prevalence of arterial hypertension, especially in women between 30 and 44 years and in patients of both sexes between 45 and 64 years. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed significantly more frequently in MMD patients with increasing age, whereas the vascular risk profile in terms of obesity, nicotine and alcohol consumption was similar to that of the general population. Antihypertensive medication was changed one year after surgical revascularization in 67.5% of patients with a tendency towards dose reduction in 43.2% of all patients. After revascularization, physicians need to be aware of a high likelihood of changes in arterial hypertension and should adjust all other modifiable systemic vascular risk factors to achieve the best treatment possible.

Is medical management useful in Moyamoya disease?

Moyamoya disease (MMD), characterized by progressive internal carotid artery stenosis and collateral vessel formation, prompts cerebral perfusion complications and is stratified into idiopathic and Moyamoya syndrome subtypes. A multifaceted approach toward MMD management addresses cerebral infarctions through revascularization surgery and adjunctive medical therapy, while also navigating risks such as intracranial hemorrhage and cerebral infarction resulting from arterial stenosis and fragile collateral vessels. Addressing antithrombotic management reveals a potential role for treatments like antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants, despite the ambiguous contribution of thrombosis to MMD-related infarctions and the critical balance between preventing ischemic events and averting hemorrhagic complications. Transcranial doppler has proven useful in thromboembolic detection, despite persisting challenges concerning the efficacy and safety of antithrombotic treatments. Furthermore, antihypertensive interventions aim to manage blood pressure meticulously, especially during intracerebral hemorrhage, with recommendations and protocols varying based on the patient's hypertension status. Additionally, lipid-lowering therapeutic strategies, particularly employing statins, are appraised for their possible beneficial role in MMD management, even as comprehensive data from disease-specific clinical trials remains elusive. Comprehensive guidelines and protocols to navigate the multifaceted therapeutic avenues for MMD, while maintaining a delicate balance between efficacy and safety, warrant further meticulous research and development. This protocol manuscript seeks to elucidate the various aspects and challenges imbued in managing and navigating through the complex landscape of MMD treatment.

How to reduce the complication rate of multiple burr holes surgery in moyamoya angiopathy

PURPOSE

This study is aimed at analyzing clinical outcome, absence of stroke recurrence, revascularization, and complications and long-term follow-up in the surgical treatment of moyamoya angiopathy (MMA) using the multiple burr holes (MBH) technique with dura opening and arachnoid preservation as a single procedure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first to describe an MBH technique with arachnoid preservation.

METHOD

We retrospectively reviewed all patients operated from June 2001 to March 2021, for a symptomatic and progressive MMA operated with opening of the dura but arachnoid preservation. Clinical examinations were obtained in all patients, and radiological monitoring was performed by cerebral 3D-magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with perfusion or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with acetazolamide.

RESULTS

In total, 21 consecutive patients (6 children and 15 adults) were included with a mean age of 7.4 years in the pediatric group and 36.9 years in the adult group. Initial presentation was permanent ischemic stroke in 15 cases, transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 5 cases, and cerebral hemorrhage in one case. The MBH with dura opening and arachnoid preservation was performed bilaterally in 9 cases (43%) and unilaterally in 12 cases (57%). One patient died due to intraoperative bilateral ischemic stroke. Of the 20 other patients, 30% demonstrated clinical stability and 70% showed partial or complete recovery. Although one patient experienced a perioperative stroke, we did not observe any pseudomeningocele or postoperative ischemic stroke (IS) recurrence in all surviving cases during the average follow-up period of 55.5 months (range: 1-195). These outcomes emphasize the importance of preoperative monitoring to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the intervention. Postoperative angiography studies showed revascularization in 96.3% of treated hemispheres (100% in the adult group vs 80% in the pediatric group).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results on this small cohort suggest that the MBH technique with opening of the dura and arachnoids preservation can prevent recurrent strokes and reduce the risk of pseudomeningocele.

Research progress of moyamoya disease combined with renovascular hypertension

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is an idiopathic cerebrovascular disease which was first described by Suzuki and Takaku in 1969. Moyamoya disease is a non-atherosclerotic cerebrovascular structural disorder. MMD has been found all over the world, especially in Japan, Korea, and China. In recent years, many reports pointed out that the changes of vascular stenosis in patients with moyamoya disease occurred not only in intracranial vessels, but also in extracranial vessels, especially the changes of renal artery. Renovascular hypertension (RVH) is considered to be one of the important causes of hypertension in patients with moyamoya disease. The pathogenesis of moyamoya disease combined with renovascular hypertension is still unclear, and the selection of treatment has not yet reached a consensus. This article reviews the latest research progress in epidemiology, RNF213 gene, pathomorphology, clinical characteristics and treatment of moyamoya disease combined with renovascular hypertension, in order to provide reference for clinical workers.

Preoperative Collateral Perfusion Using Arterial Spin Labeling: A Predictor of Surgical Collaterals in Moyamoya Angiopathy

Objectives

Various degrees of surgical collateral circulation are often found in moyamoya angiopathy (MMA) patients after revascularization. Little is known about arterial spin labeling (ASL) that affects surgical collateral circulation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ASL on surgical collaterals in patients with MMA after combined bypass surgery.

Methods

MMA patients with complete radiological and clinical information, who had undergone combined bypass, were enrolled in this study. Surgical collaterals were classified as good or poor based on the Matsushima standard. Cerebral perfusion on ASL was quantitatively analyzed as relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF). The qualitative collateral score was calculated using a four-grade scale. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed to identify the predictors for surgical collaterals after combined bypass.

Results

In total, 66 hemispheres of 61 patients (47 years old ± 8.66) were prospectively included (29 and 37 hemispheres with good and poor surgical collaterals, respectively). The presurgical collateral score was significantly lower in patients with good surgical collaterals (13.72 scores ± 7.83) than in those with poor surgical collaterals (19.16 scores ± 6.65, P = 0.005). The presurgical rCBF and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores were not significantly different between the two groups (P_rCBF = 0.639, P_mRS = 0.590). The collateral score was significantly elevated (good: 13.72 scores ± 7.83 vs. 20.79 scores ± 6.65, P < 0.001; poor: 19.16 scores ± 6.65 vs. 22.84 scores ± 5.06, P < 0.001), and the mRS was reduced (good: 1.66 scores ± 1.14 vs. 0.52 scores ± 0.83, P < 0.001; poor: 1.49 scores ± 0.90 vs. 0.62 scores ± 0.76, P < 0.001) in patients after revascularization. Multivariable logistic regression showed that preoperative collateral scores [odds ratio (OR): 0.791; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.695, 0.900; P < 0.001], age (OR: 0.181; 95% CI: 0.039, 0.854; P = 0.031), sex (OR: 0.154; 95% CI: 0.035, 0.676; P = 0.013), and hypertension (OR: 0.167; 95% CI: 0.038, 0.736; P = 0.018) were predictors of surgical collaterals after combined revascularization.

Conclusion

The preoperative collateral score based on ASL could be a predictor for surgical collaterals in patients with MMA after combined bypass surgery. Combined with age, sex, and hypertension, it may have a better predictive effect.