title: Cerebral microbleeds in patients with moyamoya-like vessels secondary to atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hemorrhagic risk is unknown in patients with moyamoya-like vessels associated with atherosclerotic intracranial cerebral artery occlusion. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between moyamoya-like vessels and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in patients with atherosclerotic steno-occlusive disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised 34 patients with steno-occlusive lesions in the intracranial cerebral artery caused by atherosclerosis. We evaluated the presence of moyamoya-like vessels at the base of the brain by cerebral angiography, and the presence of CMBs by T2*-weighted MRI. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with and those without moyamoya-like vessels; clinical histories and the incidence of CMBs were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen patients had moyamoya-like vessels. Twelve of 16 patients with moyamoya-like vessels had a history of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, whereas only 1 patient had a history of symptomatic cerebral hemorrhage. The incidence of CMBs did not differ between the 2 groups (31% vs. 28%, p=0.82). The location of CMBs varied and was not associated with the site of moyamoya-like vessels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CMBs were not associated with moyamoya-like vessels in patients with atherosclerotic cerebral artery occlusion. These patients may not have a high risk of cerebral hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. mrai@medone.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009072:Moyamoya Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors