Comparison of moyamoya disease in Japan and moyamoya disease (or syndrome) in the People's Republic of China.

To find out the causes of many epidemiological differences in Moyamoya disease in Japan and in the People's Republic of China, we performed a bibliographical investigation and an actual survey and reached the following conclusions: (1) Leptospiral infection can cause Moyamoya syndrome which cannot be differentiated from Moyamoya disease unless confirmed through the patients past history and a positive serum test; and (2) Moyamoya disease reported in China may include Moyamoya syndrome caused by leptospiral or other cerebral arteritis.