Angiographic and Hemodynamic Features in Asymptomatic Hemispheres of Patients With Moyamoya Disease.

Background And Purpose: There is also a risk of stroke in the asymptomatic hemispheres of moyamoya disease (MMD), but it does not draw enough attention. The study investigated the differences between the three types of asymptomatic hemispheres in MMD and their associations with the two types of symptomatic hemispheres, respectively.

Methods: Retrospectively reviewed clinical and imaging characteristics of asymptomatic and symptomatic hemispheres in consecutive cases of single-center MMD patients, with an emphasis on imaging characterization regarding vascular morphology and cerebral perfusion. MMD hemispheres were categorized into 5 types: hemorrhagic hemispheres, ischemic hemispheres, asymptomatic hemispheres in unilateral hemorrhagic MMD, asymptomatic hemispheres in unilateral ischemic MMD, and bilateral asymptomatic hemispheres in MMD. Angiographic feature was assessed by Suzuki's angiographic stage, while hemodynamic feature was assessed by preinfarction period stage.

Results: One hundred ninety-four MMD patients with 388 hemispheres were enrolled. Asymptomatic hemispheres in unilateral hemorrhagic MMD were largely similar to hemorrhagic hemispheres, both had more advanced Suzuki's angiographic stage and lower degree of hemodynamic failure compared with bilateral asymptomatic hemispheres in MMD and asymptomatic hemispheres in unilateral ischemic MMD. Asymptomatic hemispheres in unilateral ischemic MMD were similar to ischemic hemispheres, both had less advanced Suzuki's angiographic stage and higher degree of hemodynamic failure compared with bilateral asymptomatic hemispheres in MMD and asymptomatic hemispheres in unilateral hemorrhagic MMD. Bilateral asymptomatic hemispheres in MMD were different from the other hemispheres and had less advanced Suzuki's angiographic stage and lower degree of hemodynamic failure.

Conclusions: The three types of asymptomatic hemispheres in MMD are defined and have unique angiographic and hemodynamic features. Different combinations of the two features can reflect the tendency of pathological evolution in these different asymptomatic hemispheres.