Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure the relative concentration changes of oxygenated
hemoglobin (HbO(2)), deoxygenated
hemoglobin (HbR), and total
hemoglobin (t-Hb) before, during, and after
hyperventilation in eight patients with childhood
moyamoya disease who underwent surgery. The patients were divided into the following two groups: those with and those without re-build-up phenomenon on electroencephalography. All patients except one exhibited decreased concentrations of HbO(2) and t-Hb during
hyperventilation and decreased concentrations of HbO(2) and increased concentrations of HbR after
hyperventilation. The difference between the
hemoglobin concentration during and after
hyperventilation was significantly greater in the group with the re-build-up phenomenon than the group without it (P <0.03, Mann-Whitney U test). The patients with the re-build-up phenomenon had lower HbO(2) and higher HbR concentrations after
hyperventilation. The concentrations of HbO(2) and HbR reflect an alteration in the oxygenated blood supply and/or
oxygen use. Thus, it is strongly suggested that regional
cerebral hypoxia and metabolic
oxygen disturbances play an important role in the occurrence of the re-build-up phenomenon. Near-infrared spectroscopy is a useful noninvasive method to evaluate the efficacy of surgical treatment in childhood
moyamoya disease.