Association of thyroid autoantibodies with moyamoya-type cerebrovascular disease: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate the association between thyroid autoantibodies and moyamoya disease (MMD) in patients with an apparent euthyroid state.

METHODS

We prospectively studied angiographically diagnosed patients with MMD. We compared demographic profiles, thyroid function test, and thyroid autoantibody status between MMD and control groups.

RESULTS

A total of 63 patients with MMD, 71 patients with non-MMD stroke, and 200 healthy control subjects were included. The prevalence of elevated thyroid autoantibodies was higher in the MMD group than in other groups (P<0.01 for MMD versus non-MMD; P<0.001 for MMD versus control subjects). After adjusting for covariates, the elevated thyroid autoantibodies (OR, 4.871; 95% CI, 1.588 to 15.277) and smoking habits (OR, 0.206 for current smoker; 95% CI, 0.054 to 0.786) were independently associated with MMD versus non-MMD stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated thyroid autoantibodies were frequently observed in patients with MMD. The results of the present study suggest that immune aberrancies associated with or underlying thyroid autoimmunity are also playing a role in developing MMD.