North American moya moya is different

Hallemeier et al. Stroke 2006. Authors looked at 34 adults with the condition. 22 had bilateral and 12 unilateral moya moyal vessels. North Americans present more often with ischemic stroke whereas Asians present with hemorrhage more often. 0/12 unilateral patients subsequently developed contralateral symptoms. Symptomatic patients had high levels of recurrence both homolaterally and contralaterally, and asymptomatic patients had a low risk of ischemic events. Surgical treatment revascularization led to less recurrence, with a fairly high perioperative morbidity and mortality ( as high as 17 % for the latter). N American moya moya may be a different entity than the Japanese kind.