THE CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID IN PATIENTS WITH MOYAMOYA DISEASE (SPONTANEOUS OCCLUSION OF THE CIRCLE OF WILLIS) CONTAINS HIGH-LEVEL OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR

The level of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in cerebrospinal fl uid (CF) was measured by an EIA in 15 patients with moyamoya disease, in 11 patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease, and in 8 patien ts with spinal disc disease. In the moyamoya patients, bFGF was found in 13 out of 15 CF samples with a mean value of 101 pg/ml. However, bF GF was detected in only 4 out of 11 patients with atherosclerotic dise ase with a mean of 8 pg/ml. In all the patients with disc disease, bFG F was not detected. The elevated level of bFGF may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of moyamoya disease.