It is with great pleasure that I invite you to the 1st ISNVD
Annual Meeting in Bologna, Italy. The meeting was designed
to give strong support to the practical knowledge and
diagnosis of chronic cerebral spinal venous insufficiency
(CCSVI) on one hand, and to provide a strong rationale
demonstrating that many neurodegenerative diseases
exhibit often neglected vascular mechanisms. Finally, data
and guidelines will be presented for those wishing to address
the experience of endovascular treatment of CCSVI in the
safest way for the patient, contributing to the improvement
of knowledge through outcome measures and design of
observational and/or randomized studies. More specifically,
Sunday, March 13, 2011 will be dedicated to Duplex in
CCSVI. There will be a consensus meeting, in the historical
Trotti Mosti Palace in Ferrara, on Practical Guidelines for the
investigation and screening of CCSVI.
This is an ISNVD initiative in cooperation with leading
International Scientific Societies that deal with diagnostic
tests on the venous system, such as the European
Venous Forum, the International Union of Phlebology, the
International Union of Angiology, the American College of
Phlebolgy, Austral-Asian College of Phlebology, the Italian
Society for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and the
Italian Society of Pathology of the Vascular Apparatus.
This conference was necessary to try to standardize the
methods of investigation and reporting of examinations. The
conference will also allow access to the diagnostic criteria
as well as on shared standards for scientific reports.
On the afternoon of March 14, 2011, in Bologna in the
National Research Council (CNR), there will be a Workshop on
ECD diagnosis of CCSVI with theoretical presentations and
discussion of clinical cases and diagnostic pitfalls along with
the experts. This workshop is of great educational value, and
highlighted by the final forum of discussion with experts.
Monday, March 14, will be held in Bologna, Italy, in the
beautiful conference room of the CNR, with the following
topics: CCSVI imaging. This session will provide all the
knowledge on ultrasound techniques, including conventional,
unconventional, and invasive; on the value of CT and MRV, as
compared to gold standard venography, and the prospects
of fusion technology of image. At the end the audience will
have an idea on the current state of the art. The keynote
lecture was given to a scientist of great experience and
breadth of knowledge in vascular pathologies, Professor
© Photo by Aurore Martignoni
Berislav V. Zlokovic from Rochester (NY). His reading will demonstrate an understanding of
vascular pathogenetic mechanisms, virtually present in the majority of neurodegenerative
diseases. In the afternoon, we plan two other important plenary sessions, one devoted
to the mechanisms of neurotoxicity of iron, and the second one dedicated to the issue of
stroke and carotid disease. The evening program includes a social dinner at the “Cantina
Bentivoglio”, an unforgettable experience in the historic center of Bologna. On the third
day of the annual meeting, March 15, 2011, the first session is totally dedicated to better
understanding the mechanisms by which CCSVI can contribute to the development of
MS, with the participation of Bruce Trapp, Robert Zivadinov, Giulio Gabbiani and Clive
Beggs. They are entrusted with the task of being critical integrating factors between basic
science and clinical practice. The fifth plenary session is dedicated to vascular mechanisms
active in numerous neurological diseases, and sometimes well known, as is underlined by
Costantino Iadecola for AD, and sometimes not, especially if undetected or sometimes
instead of venous origin as will be reported by Fabrizio Salvi. The program continues with a
discussion of potential links between CCSVI and cerebral hemodynamics with contributions
from Simon Shepherd, Charles Feng and I, in the same session, will argue instead on
new and promising techniques for the measurement of cerebral venous outflow. The last
sessions are devoted to aspects of diagnosis, phlebography and endovascular treatment
of CCSVI, selecting for the occasion in plenary sessions, scientific contributions submitted
with abstracts from all those in the world dealing with the subject. This will be preceded by
the presentation of the BRA.VE DR.E.A.MS study design, an incoming RCT presented by
Graziella Filippini.
The real gem of this congress are the two best abstracts sessions. They are the mirror
of this scientific society, where science, interdisciplinary, and exchange are the fuel of a
genuine academic association, non-weighted by an excess of conflict of interest.
Last but not least, I invite you to meet two of the most beautiful Medieval and Renaissance
cities of Italy, Bologna and Ferrara, separated by a distance of only 30 minutes by car or train.
The Bologna airport is connected to all European cities. Bologna and Ferrara, where CCSVI
has been described for the first time, are also sites of two of the oldest Universities in the
world, the University of Bologna founded in 1088 A.D. and the University of Ferrara founded
in 1391 A.D. In Bologna, you can visit the two oldest Twin Towers of the world, the incredible
journey under the arcades which takes visitors to the city for miles without ever needing an
umbrella. In Ferrara, you will see the fortress of the Castle and the virtually intact city walls
that surround the city, and where today you can go jogging and walking as in a park. Bologna
and Ferrara are also known for excellent cuisine and you can try the Tortellini, Mortadella,
Salama, and Pumpkin Cappellacci. I hope you come attracted by the excellent scientific
program offered, as well as by the artistic beauty of these two fantastic Italian towns.
Sincerely,
Paolo Zamboni, MD
President of ISNVD

http://www.isnvd.org/files/ISNVD-Programma%20definitivo.pdf