New Method of detecting Moyamoya !

Let me try to put this into plain English, there is a method to detect if someone has MMD. Previously they would need to do the radiological analysis, I think angiogram is the right word, where they go up and take pictures/MRI, etc.

Basically these folks are studying the cerebrospinal (spine fluid from brain area?) fluid and they found some indicators that are common in folks that already diagnosed with MMD (that are NOT found in those who do not have MMD!)

What does this mean? In theory this provides another method of diagnosing the disease AND it also helps them to find out what causes the issue in the first place!

I am not sure there is really a benefit currently for potential patients unless this is less intrusive than the standard angiogram type of tests? (I believe spinal taps to get fluid is very painful procedure?)

Ok, enough of me, here is what they had to say...

http://7thspace.com/headlines/362998/identification_of_novel_biomarker_candidates_by_proteomic_analysis_of_cerebrospinal_fluid_from_patients_with_moyamoya_disease_using_seldi_tof_ms.html

Identification of novel biomarker candidates by proteomic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from patients with moyamoya disease using SELDI-TOF-MS

Author: Yoshio ArakiKazuhiro YoshikawaSho OkamotoMasaki SumitomoMikio MaruwakaToshihiko Wakabayashi
Credits/Source: BMC Neurology 2010, 10:112

Results: A statistically significant number of proteins (34) were recognized as single biomarker candidate proteins which were differentially detected in the CSF of patients with MMD, compared to the control patients (p<0.05).>Two important biomarkers could successfully classify the patients with MMD and control patients.

Conclusions: In this study, several novel biomarker candidate proteins differentially expressed in the CSF of patients with MMD were identified by a recently developed proteomic approach.

This is a pilot study of CSF proteomics for MMD using SELDI technology. These biomarker candidates have the potential to shed light on the underlying pathogenesis of MMD.