CCSVI does not predict MS risk or severity

Background: It is unclear whether chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is associated with MS, because substantial methodological differences have been claimed by Zamboni to account for the lack of results of other groups. Furthermore, the potential role of venous malformations in influencing MS severity has not been fully explored. This information is particularly relevant, because uncontrolled surgical procedures are increasingly offered to MS patients to treat their venous stenoses.

Methods: In the present study, CCSVI was studied in 84 MS'ers and in 56 healthy subjects by applying the Zamboni method for CCSVI identification.

Results: The investigators found no differences in CCSVI frequency between MS'ers and control subjects. Furthermore, no differences were found between CCSVI-positive and CCSVI-negative MS'ers in terms of relevant clinical variables such as disease duration, time between onset and first relapse, relapsing or progressive disease course, and risk of secondary progression course. 

ConclusionsCCSVI has no role in either MS risk or MS severity.

Centonze et al. Proposed chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency criteria do not predict multiple sclerosis risk or severity. Ann Neurol. 2011 Jul;70(1):52-9. doi: 10.1002/ana.22436.

"CCSVI falls down on the first criterion proposed by Sir Austin Bradford-Hill (see post below)."

CoI: Nil

Other posts on CCSVI on this blog:

30 Jun 2011
CCSVI is simply a placebo effect. MS'ers are so desperate they're willing to try anything resembling effective treatment. I sometimes think that MS'ers are holding back progress by jumping on unproven bandwagons. ...
25 Jun 2011
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of endovascular treatment of chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency (CCSVI) in patients with MS. In a 1-year period 461 MS'ers underwent endovascular treatment of 1012 ...
25 Jun 2011
Why is this important for CCSVI? The venous system is a capacitance system; i.e. it stores blood. When MS'ers dehydrate themselves they will almost certainly reduce the amount of blood in the venous system, ...
24 Jun 2011
This study was performed to determine how common CCSVI is in a large group of patients with MS, clinically isolated syndrome, other neurologic diseases, and healthy controls, using specific diagnostic criteria using an ...

20 May 2011
The following are the results of our survey on CCSVI that has just closed. Surprisingly only 10% of respondents thought that CCSVI is the cause of MS. Almost a quarter of people think it is an established disease. ...
21 Jun 2011
Klaus' annual CCSVI stand-up routine is fast becoming an institution. Maybe next year he'll even do some proper research rather than just Googling for some 'hilarious' images… Thursday, June 23, 2011 2:28:00 PM ...
04 May 2011
CCSVI - The rise of people power. Italy and Canada bare the brunt of the CCSVI lobby (please see link and picture below). Is this the way to prioritize research? Chafe et al. Nature 472, 410–411 (28 April 2011). ...
15 Apr 2011
CCSVI - time for Sir Bradford-Hill's criteria for causation. Did you know that there is a whole science behind causation? It started way back in the later 1800's when Robert Koch formulated his postulates to persuade his ...

14 Apr 2011
Those with results suggestive of CCSVI underwent selective venography (the gold standard for diagnosing diseases of blood vessels). Fifty healthy age- and gender-matched controls were studied. ...
22 Apr 2011
If any one is interested in CCSVI they should read "Bad Science" by Ben Goldacre; the book provides the social context to the CCSVI phenomenon. Please see badscience.net.
14 Apr 2011
CCSVI: value of MR venography for detection of internal jugular vein anomalies in MS: a pilot longitudinal study. Zivadinov R, et al. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2011 Apr 7. [Epub ahead of print] ...
11 Nov 2009
The “big idea” underlying the presumed link between CCSVI and MS is that narrowing in large veins outside the central nervous system (CNS) leads to stagnation of venous blood in small veins within the CNS and, ...

Etc. Search term "CCSVI"