The Great Debate: CCSVI and MS -- Written by Al Ossorio - facebook prikbord

Introduction

A great debate has emerged: does CCSVI exist? Is it linked with MS?

Summarizing the current research on CCSVI is not simple – the results are wildly contradictory. Consider the following:

CCSVI's existence and association with MS has received broad support from a wide range of studies conducted across three continents.^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and others}

The existence of CCSVI has been refuted (and thus any association with MS dispelled) by a wide range of studies conducted in the U.S. and EU.^{8,9,10,11,12,13,14, and others}

A recent but smaller group of studies suggests that CCSVI may exist, but that it may be a consequence of MS as opposed to a contributor.^15,7

As researchers, patients, and physicians, what do we make of these conflicting conclusions?

Clearly, given the contradictory research, no truly definitive statements about CCSVI can currently be made. However, a careful review of the studies does reveal important trends, and hints at where and how research should proceed.

Before moving on, we must clarify one issue: This article does NOT address CCSVI treatment effectiveness. Some may be disappointed by this, but the fact is that only two studies have explored CCSVI Treatment.^{16, 17} Both were “open label” (not scientifically conclusive), and both found similar results (that treatment may help, but that more research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn). Thus, no contradictions in treatment data currently exist. Obviously, there is widespread dispute about CCSVI Treatment, but this dispute is not grounded in research, because science has not yet addressed the issue.

Hopefully, results from the several CCSVI clinical trials currently underway will emerge over the next twelve months, and then we will have some good treatment data to consider. Until then, we are left to consider research that does exist, and what it has to say about the presence of CCSVI and its relationship (or lack of relationship) to MS. To this end, however, we will consider how the two existing treatment studies factor into the debate over the existence of CCSVI and its connection to MS.

Lastly, CCSVI Alliance considers this a “living document” that will be updated and refined as additional research data becomes available, and as additional researchers and informed patients and physicians review and respond to the material.

For the balance of the article go to: http://www.ccsvi.org/index.php/advanced-topics/research-analysis