New MS study links disease to CCSVI

Researchers of multiple sclerosis (MS) looking at a trend said that a new study shows signs of narrowing of the veins, causing restricted blood flow from the brain.

New York's University of Buffalo team said they were optimistic of the link after speaking to 280 people with MS, with 56.4 per cent found to have the abnormality, compared to 25.9 per cent of regular individuals found to have the same abnormality.

The condition is classed as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and was first associated with MS by Paolo Zamboni from Italy's University of Ferrara.

Biomedical research manager at the MS Society Dr Doug Brown said that the results are very intriguing but it must be remembered that people with MS could show evidence of CCSVI in screening studies so there is no proof that this phenomenon is a leading or contributory cause of MS.

He added: "The next step is to determine what this actually means for MS and an investigation into whether there's any potential therapeutic benefit from treatment will be pivotal for this novel theory."

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