Is CCSVI a door to new ways of treating MS?

CCSVI or Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency, really stunned all 2.5 million MSers, around the world when the first news came out.

Watch the following video that illustrates Dr. Zamboni's theory of CCSVI

Just the thought of undergoing, what I understand is not a complicated procedure, that results in being able to feel “normal” again (MSers know what I mean) is something that really “doesn’t have a price.”

Dr. Paolo Zamboni, a Professor at the University of Ferrara in Italy, made the remarkable discovery while trying to find a cure for his MS-stricken wife. Dr. Zamboni, who was trained as a vascular surgeon, found that people with MS have a higher incidence of constricted veins in their neck which, if restricted, compromised blood’s circulation and the iron in the blood slowly reflux causing an accumulation of iron in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in neurological issues.

Dr. Zamboni’s preliminary findings from his study of approximately 65 patients were published in June 2009.

Some doctors suspect that other dangerous metals like cadmium, lead or mercury, accumulate too, but so far this is just a theory. In the case of the iron is no longer a theory, Dr. Zamboni’s findings make a heck of a lot of sense.

This “experimental” procedure has shown remarkable results: This is more evident when you look at the videos of MSers that have undergone “The Liberation Treatment”, as the procedure is called.

Click right HERE to watch the original news video.

Look at it this way. CCSVI is simply the medical term used to describe a condition of narrowed veins. Doctors can see the veins with a non-invasive test such as a Doppler ultrasound. So, just picture your garden hose. If it’s squeezed off, water doesn’t flow.

Same thing with your azygos vein, or your jugular veins. Dr. Zamboni’s liberation procedure takes the knot out of the hose and allows proper blood (and iron) to flow out of the brain.

I believe that as a result of the initial reactions from patients (MSers) and their families to the news around the world, the National MS Society in the USA and Canada invited investigators worldwide to apply for grants for more research on this new theory.

Click here to watch a video on the National MS Society's position. Dr. Zamboni’s original investigation reported evidence of slowed and obstructed drainage in the veins draining the brain and spinal cord in the majority of those with MS.

Researchers at the University of Buffalo found that people with MS have about two-and-a-half times higher incidence of stenosis- narrowing of their extracranial veins.

I know what you’re thinking and yes, there is a great sense of urgency to expeditiously advance any lead that has the potential of stopping, repairing or preventing MS. With that in mind, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society

“is pursuing this new and potentially promising research direction by committing to fund expanded research on CCSVI in MS.”

Back in February of this year, National MS Society research leaders met with Dr. Zamboni in advance of his invited lecture at New York University’s Society-funded MS Center of Excellence.

During his presentation, Dr. Zamboni suggested that if further evidence supports the link between MS and CCSVI, that its treatment may ultimately be added to the arsenal of therapies available today for MS. He put a lot of emphasis on the need for more research on his theory, and noted that it is still not proven whether CCSVI is a cause of MS or related to MS in some other manner.

Dr. Zamboni also noted that MSers, like you and me, should continue on their immunomodulatory therapies as has his wife after her endovascular surgical procedure.

Now, and this is my personal opinion, I find that the relationship between the medical establishment and the pharmaceutical companies is one being tied by an eight billion dollars in revenues from the sale of MS therapies.

I don’t want to crash your party or rain on your parade but when you hear that the makers of Avonex, Betaseron, Rebif, Copaxone, Tysabri and Novantrone pulled such a large sum of money, the thought of this being a big and powerful incentive to stall, delay or divert any real investigation into this innovative medical procedure in MS crosses my mind. Doesn’t yours?

Visit the MS Blog regularly to keep up-to-date on any new develpment or news.

Below I have placed a couple of links that I think you're going to find very interesting:

Liberation treatment VIDEO by an interventional radiologist Part Two

You can also Click here to go visit the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Center page on Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency - CCSVI

New! Comments