The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
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J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Res. · Oct 2009
Case ReportsMoyamoya-disease-related ischemic stroke in the postpartum period.
Stroke during pregnancy or the puerperium is an extremely rare yet serious cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Moyamoya disease, a cerebrovascular occlusive pathology with a female predominance, may become symptomatic for the first time in association with pregnancy. A 36-year-old woman with postpartum pre-eclampsia suddenly developed hemiparesis in the left arm with dysarthria after the initiation of antihypertensive measures. ⋯ With anti-platelet medication, the patient recovered gradually and was diagnosed as having Moyamoya disease using conventional angiography 3 months postpartum. In this case, the fluctuations in blood pressure in association with pre-eclampsia appear to have exacerbated the clinical symptoms of Moyamoya disease. As such, Moyamoya disease should be considered as an underlying disease of ischemic stroke associated with pregnancy.