Multiple sclerosis, CCSVI and Balloon angioplasty

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With the eagerly anticipated research studies on the role of CCSVI in Multiple Sclerosis, and clinical trials evaluating balloon angioplasty as a treatment for CCSVI and Multiple Sclerosis underway, there finally seems to be a positive step in the direction of this controversial therapy. One which many Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and caregivers have anxiously been waiting for a medical verdict on.

Indeed the technique has started to be called “Liberation Therapy” by many in the Multiple Sclerosis community.

Multiple Sclerosis, widely thought to be an autoimmune disease, although it hasn’t been proven as such, is a chronic disabling neurological disease that attacks the Central Nervous System which is made up of brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.

In 2008 Dr Paolo Zamboni, a vascular specialist put forward his theory that Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency, also known as CCSVI is the causing factor of Multiple Sclerosis. Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) is a condition with a compromised flow of blood in veins draining the central nervous system. Dr Zamboni also suggested an endovascular treatment called balloon angioplasty to remove these blockages.

Dr Zamboni’s theory and suggested treatment immediately generated tremendous amounts of hope and interest amongst MS sufferers and carers.

However, much of the medical community around the world have so far only been hesitant and sceptical, snubbing Dr Zamboni’s theory and the treatment, labelling them as medical myths. The procedure has been banned in other countries and the medical advisors are waiting for rigorous clinical trials to produce sufficient evidence to support it. However, despite the claimed risks and medical concerns surrounding this line of treatment, this procedure is already being performed privately in 40 countries, and is allowed by Kuwait’s medical authorities and paid for by their State financed health system.

It may be interesting to take a moment here to note, that many critics of Dr Zamboni’s CCSVI theory and treatment are involved in research studies relating to such drug related therapies for MS. What is also strange is that most research studies for Multiple Sclerosis seem to be concentrated towards slowing down and controlling the MS, making the disease more bearable, more manageable and the symptoms milder instead of preventing or curing it altogether.
The very powerful pharmaceutical industry does business of over $8 billion per year, selling MS drugs that control the disease but not cure it. People are beginning to ask if this MS “industry”, worth over $10 billion a year might be interested in maintaining the status quo?

What are your views on the subject? Feel free to share your story and add links to useful sites as well as upload any relevant videos.

Read our other article on this subject or visit our website on Multiple Sclerosis Information

http://www.patient-experience.com/index.php/multiple-sclerosis-and-ccsvi/