6/11/10

Team to test theory of vein efficiency in Multiple Sclerosis patients, and how to detect it

(Posted By: Josi Creek)

B.C. doctors will be part of a $2.4-million, two-year research study to look at whether a controversial treatment for multiple sclerosis is legitimate.




A team of researchers from the University of B.C., Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and the University of Saskatchewan has been selected by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the National MS Society (U.S.) to assess whether a syndrome known as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) has a role in MS.
“We’re planning on doing diagnostic studies to confirm how common is this CCSVI phenomenon,” said Dr. Tony Traboulsee, leader of the research team.
The MS doctors and patient community have been shaken up by Italian doctor Paulo Zamboni, who claims that treating CCSVI has had beneficial results with MS patients.
Zamboni’s treatment, which involves using an angioplasty-type treatment on veins, is reported to have improved the condition of some MS patients.
It has resulted in MS patients booking trips to Poland, Bulgaria and India to get the treatment.
The Canadian study will involve 200 people, 100 with MS and 100 without, to see if the CCSVI is a factor.
Traboulsee said the study will not involve treatment of the condition.
“The idea of the test if to find out if MS people have this and what’s the best way to detect it,” he said.
He said that people with MS should not spend tens of thousands going to Eastern Europe and India to get the treatment without knowing if it will work.
“People aren’t doing this as research, but are doing it for profit,” he said.
Still, Traboulsee said he understands why people don’t want to wait.
He said once the research study is complete, further testing will be needed to decide on treatment, if any.

Labels: CCSVI