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Multiple Sclerosis

October 4, 2011 by · Comments Off on Multiple Sclerosis 

Multiple SclerosisMultiple Sclerosis, People with MS are significantly more likely to have abnormalities in the veins that drain blood from the brain than people without the disease, new research reports in Canada.

After pooling the results of eight studies, researchers found that patients with MS were four to 14 times more likely to have chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI – a blockage or narrowing of the veins in the brain and neck, which some Researchers say that causes MS and is the basis of the “release therapy.”

But there was great variation in the results – with the frequency of CCSVI in MS patients ranging from 100 percent to zero, the study – scientists say it is still impossible to say conclusively whether CCSVI cause of MS or no.

“One message is that both sides in this controversy to recognize that there is uncertainty and expect the results” of the current studies, said lead author Andreas Laupacis, chief executive of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at the Hospital St. Toronto Michael.

“Anyone who says, ‘I know for sure CCSVI MS cause,” I think this study suggests they do not know for sure. Similarly, some have said, ‘This is a ridiculous theory and there is nothing to her,’ I do not believe it because it holds some studies have clearly found something. ”

The study appears in this week’s edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

In an accompanying commentary, U.S. Neurologist Robert Fox says that “the science is still far from showing” if CCSVI is a paradigm shift in MS “, or just in fashion.”

Fox says CCSVI may be only a phenomenon of a diseased brain is not specific for MS.

“It can be seen in Alzheimer’s disease can be observed in other inflammatory diseases of the brain,” says Fox, medical director of the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic.

Canadians with multiple sclerosis have traveled to Bulgaria, Poland, Mexico, United States and other countries for the treatment of liberation, a controversial treatment that involves opening the blocked veins in the neck that was developed by Italian Paolo Zamboni doctor.

Fox warns patients outside the procedure.

“There are patients who have died from complications of this procedure, patients who have had very serious complications that need open heart surgery as a result of this procedure,” he says. “There is risk free.”

Many of the studies were small, did not report whether the person performing the ultrasound knew whether the patient had multiple sclerosis and the studies may have used different ultrasound techniques.

In June, the federal government announced it would fund clinical trials release therapy for patients with MS.

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