Dr Paolo Zamboni presented his research in Madrid and you can watch his full talk (20 minutes) at link below. Here is a brief summary:

Brave Dreams, a randomised controlled sham clinical trial of CCSVI in Relapsing Remitting MS, is still under embargo and waiting publication before results can be shared. It uses objective measurements including MRI and other quality of life endpoints. The study has 130 participants and over 90% completed follow up.

Zamboni discussed the main causes of disrupted flow in the jugular vein including malformations of the valve, external compression and hypoplasia of the vein.

Clearance rates (the speed at which blood moves through the internal jugular veins) is much slower for people with CCSVI compared with normals. Example shows normal clearance rate of less than 2 seconds compared with more than 6 seconds for jugular vein with CCSVI. After angioplasty treatment the same vein showed improvement in clearance rate showing the procedure was effective.

Is vein repair always needed? Challenge is that simple angioplasty is not enough for about 50% of people. Membranes or immobile leaflets in the vein are suitable for treatment. Long, immobile and asymmetric leaflets, muscle entrapments compressing the vein and hypoplasia are not successfully treated with angioplasty. Muscle compression can block flow and may require open surgery to relieve intracranial pressure. Perfusion changes in the brain can be seen on PET following this procedure of several case studies.

Results for the Brave Dreams Trial will be available in 2017 and we will see additional techniques for treating veins not suitable for angioplasty inc new stents designed for intracranial system. The International Society of Neurovascular Disease will be held in May in Taormina.

Zamboni discusses possible role of vascular abnormalities in chronic inflammation in Parkinson's Disease during the question session (at approx 29 minutes).

Kerri [via CCSVI Australia]

Dr. Paolo Zamboni speaks at the NeuroInterventional Radiology Conference in Madrid:

https://youtu.be/ebxi9K31S7M