Abstract
Background: Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome is a potential complication of superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis for moyamoya disease (MMD). Prophylactic blood pressure lowering in combination with the use of minocycline, a neuroprotective antibiotic agent, has been suggested to reduce the risk of cerebral hyperperfusion. We therefore aimed to evaluate the results of this procedure in our larger series.
Methods: N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine single-photon emission computed tomography was performed 1 and 7 days after STA-MCA anastomosis on 89 hemispheres from 75 consecutive patients with MMD (10-66, mean 38 years old). Postoperative systolic blood pressure was strictly controlled under 130 mmHg with the intra-operative and postoperative intravenous administration of minocycline hydrochloride (200 mg/day). Then we investigated the incidence of perioperative neurological deterioration and radiological adverse events such as delayed intracranial hemorrhage.
Results: All patients underwent technically successful revascularization surgeries, and none of them suffered permanent neurological deterioration postoperatively. Three patients suffered transient ischemic attack in the acute stage (3.4%), and one patient suffered delayed intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), which caused transient aphasia (1.1%). Six patients (mean age of 51.3 years) demonstrated delayed intracranial hemorrhage (subarachnoid hemorrhage in 5, and ICH in one) (6.7%) while five of them remained asymptomatic.
Conclusion: The administration of minocycline with strict blood pressure control may represent secure and effective postoperative management after STA-MCA anastomosis for MMD, while delayed intracranial hemorrhage, either symptomatic or asymptomatic, is a potential complication of this procedure.
