Increased Levels of Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients With Moyamoya Disease

Chronic cerebral ischemia leads to higher risk for strokes attributable to insufficient collateralization, resulting from inadequate capacity for arteriogenesis and angiogenesis. Patients with Moyamoya disease (MMD) have similar transient ischemic attack frequencies compared to patients with chronic cerebral ischemia with other etiologies, but a strong capacity for arteriogenesis and angiogenesis. The mechanisms involved in the upregulation of the arteriogenesis and angiogenesis in MMD still remain unknown. In the present study we investigated if circulating endothelial progenitor cells are increasingly mobilized during MMD.