I just recently seen my nuerosurgeon down here in boynton beach, fl. He has told me that in some case moya moya is/can be caused by a viral infection. My surgeon has had me due blood test to see what viral infection that caused my moya moya condtion and if it is still active or not. Has anyone else heard of this before? I have been told to that some viral infections arent treatable and some are and that if my viral infection is still active and not treatable it could block of more arteries. Please is anyone has ever been told anything like this please write cause i have read alot on moya moya and have never read anything like this

I have never heard that either , but you find out more info let us know. Where is your DR. getting this info from? ;)

I am not shure were my doctor gets his information. My doctor likes to read alot and he did tell me that he couldnt be passed until he did like 15 or more cases of moya moya so i am shure he has read alot. He has sad that he has read causes linked to a viral infection and moya moya so im not shure.

I am no Dr. or surgeon but I have never heard of this neither.

Please get a second opinion. Does he have any verifyable facts? ::)

Ummm, don't think so.  Where did that one come from??

[smiley=smokin.gif]
(NOT a regular cigarette)

Just another example of seeing someone with experience treating moyamoya.  Of course, this is just my personal opinion...

DJ

Never heard of this connection either so did a little searching tonight and found these:

1.)Studies on cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus infection in moyamoya disease.  Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

2.)Then I saw this:  Q8   Is moyamoya disease infectious? How to prevent it.

A8   The etiology of moyamoya disease is unknown. In 70's and 80', it was believed that the preceding infection (either bacterial or viral) might be related to moyamoya disease. However, this was not proven. Now, it is believed that moyamoya disease is not infectious, thus it is unnecessary to care about it. You should not think that moyamoya disease is infectious and dangerous because it is not so.  Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

3.) I also saw several articles, some fairly current, "perhaps" linking the two in a publication called "Current Opinion in Neurology" which requires special access to read the full text.

My  [smiley=twocents.gif] is who the heck knows for sure but, that said, it sure does seem strange to me that if viral infections did have a positive link to MM then wouldn't more neurologists/neurosurgeons (especially those with a lot of MM experience) be doing something about those viral infections?  [smiley=confused2.gif] I would be highly interested to have your doctor tell you, and then please relay that to us, exactly where/what he is reading this all from.  

Interesting theory is about all I can say at this point. [smiley=huh.gif]

Just thought I’d throw in my [smiley=twocents.gif] as well. In my research of moyamoya disease a couple years ago, we had some outdated material to work with, and a lot of it was from Japan, with no dates or references. Yes, I did read then, that they believed that a preceding infection (either bacterial or viral) might be related to moyamoya disease. However, it was NEVER PROVEN. In more recent studies and research they suspect a genetic link.

Naturally I didn’t keep any records of that outdated material to show you, but Lisa does show a few links here where it’s mentioned. However, IMO, there are no proven facts to back up any physician stating the cause of moyamoya is viral, when all recent studies say unknown cause.

For Instance, it states in one,
Moyamoya disease was once believed to be caused by the secondary, acquired causes, such as viral or bacterial infection. However, recent study suggests congenital nature of this disease. Thanks to human genome research, many genes causing congenital diseases have been found.

http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/moya-moya/gene.htm

Extremelife, If I was you, and I questioned it, I’d go to another doctor who has moyamoya experience, and ask that same question. I think you’ll get your answers.

Mar

    Hi, Tom G here.
    Dr. Conolly in NY presbyterian,  has done a lot of research on moyamoya, and  told me some time ago that the cause of MM is still very much unknown  [smiley=huh.gif]  but that they are looking into everything including exposure to certain pollutants and chemicals in the workplace,  home or enviornmental.So at this time nothing has been ruled in or out.
And Mar, what in the world are you doing, posting at 3:55 am [smiley=laugh.gif]

Tom

I agree with Tom G -- Doctors are not really sure what causes Moyamoya, and it might even be different causes for different people.  

The subject does interest me, though, because my daughter tested positive for CMV (cytomegalovirus) when she was 10 weeks old - it was found in her urine.  I have read in a couple of reports breif references to congenital CMV infections in association with moyamoya.  It makes me wonder -- but then again, Daphne's undergone blood tests, spinal fluid tests, MRIs and we even had her banked cord blood tested and it came back fine.

It wouldn't hurt to get blood tests for viruses, but don't be surprised if the CMV test comes back positive.  Nearly everyone has had CMV sometime in the past, and it can show up in the urine or blood for many years after an active infection.

Thank you everybody for your responses. Yes my surgeon from boston and my surgeon from here in florida have both told me that the source of moya moya has been unknown. There has been no conclusive evdience to really link a viral infection and moya moya i think its just a place for my surgeon to start. Just proves no one really knows about moya moya. thanks for all the links and repsonses.