Moyamoya Disease, Which is Rare in Infancy: A Case Report

Abstract

Moyamoya disease etiology is an undetermined vasculopathy and is mainly thought to affect the Internal Carotid Artery and Wills circle. An 8-month-old patient without any underlying disease was referred to our hospital with sudden extreme right hemiparesis. There was no evidence of meningeal irritation in the neurological examination, decreased tonus on the right side, strength in the upper right extremity 3/5 and strength in the lower right extremity 2/5, deep tendon reflexes were exaggerated. Cranial brain tomography angiography showed in both distal internal cerebral arteries and branches and a significantly curvy appearance, with similar changes present in the veins forming the Willis circle. Low molecular weight heparin, acetylsalicylic acid, and levetiracetam were started. On the fifth day of follow-up, motor activity in the lower right extremity returned to normal. The power loss of 2/5 in the upper right extremity was continuing. The patient was then transferred to a center with Moyamoya surgery, which may be needed. This case highlights the importance of considering Moyamoya disease as a classical etiologies of acute ischemic strokes in children. It also highlights the rare presentation among the Turkish population and the use of neurovascular imaging techniques to facilitate the diagnosis of Moyamoya diseas

Keywords

• infant
• moyamoya disease
• cerebral angiography
• acute stroke