In the first study of its kind, UB researchers have found that the vascular condition CCSVI and multiple sclerosis share several risk factors.
Studying individuals without neurological disease, researchers observed that risk factors for CCSVI—or chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency—occurred more frequently in people:
- with a history of mononucleosis
- with irritable bowel syndrome
- who smoke or used to smoke
“Our results suggest that risk factors for CCSVI in this group of volunteers are remarkably similar to those of possible or confirmed importance to MS, but we do not understand the whole story,” says Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD, professor of neurology.