I would like to acknowledge the VEITH Program Directors and
the Faculty for their continued interest and discussion related to the vascular
connections in neurological disease patterns.
Unfortunately, a few of the scheduled speakers were not in attendance. Again,
as in prior scientific sessions, the consensus of opinion from the panel of
experts was “we do not have enough information”. It was about equally divided between the
supporters who want the research to continue and those who discount it and want
the effort stopped with no further expenditure. The VEITH Symposium has made
the slide presentations available on its website www.veithsymposium.org. They are linked below.
Dr. Michael Dake (Stanford Univ.) reiterated that CCSVI and its story has been played out in a very bright light of social media which ultimately caused an inflammatory reaction from those who held the traditional pathophysiology belief of MS as an autoimmune disease. This was the first time
that a discovery had not been allowed to work through a normal scientific process. Unfortunately, he feels the term CCSVI has become a lightening rod and is now stigmatized. They continue to stumble as CCSVI cannot reliably be diagnosed. He stated the “genie cannot be put back in the bottle”. We are now seeing a step back to square one to a broader approach which encompasses other neurological disease patterns and a broadening of the focus of the program which is now looking at other physiologies including baroreceptor activation, venous flow patterns, and increased cerebral perfusion. Dr Dake elaborates on these points of discussion in the video interview which we will post on our website.
Slides available http://www.veithsymposium.org/abstracts/2014/vei/241.pdf
Dr Donald Reid (Edinburg Clinic) talked about his study with a cohort of 340 patients who have had significant improvement. He feels the reasons for variation in effectiveness of the treatment is, as Dr. Dake mentioned, the diagnosis. Dr. Reid also talked about using a double balloon technique to open resistive veins. Instead of using a larger balloon which is restricted to higher pressure, he has tried using two small balloons
to increase the diameter of the vein. The smaller balloons are not as limited to higher pressures. Obviously, this technique needs further study.
Slides available http://www.veithsymposium.org/abstracts/2014/vei/242.pdf
Dr. Lindsay Machan ( Univ. of British Columbia) reviewed data related to the CCSVI study at University of British Columbia. Much of the information has previously been made public through the MS Society of Canada. http://mssociety.ca/en/help/msupdates/msupdate_20131008.htm
New information was on the $6M CIHR Grant study which is a controlled blinded cross-over trial. They are now in the crossover phase of the study where people who were in the sham arm are now being treated. Dr. Machan believes the study results will be available in early 2016.
Slides available http://www.veithsymposium.org/abstracts/2014/vei/244.pdf
According to Dr. Paolo Zamboni (Univ. of Ferrara – Italy), improved diagnostic assessments are helping in patient selection. He referred to the ISNVD Position paper, “ The ISNVD recommends a multimodal noninvasive and invasive approach to determine what is the true prevalence of CCSVI in patients with MS and other CNS disorders, as well as in healthy individuals”
http://www.isnvd.org/d/sites/default/files/JVIR-ISNVD%20position%20statement-Multimodal%20imaging%20for%20CCSVI.pdf
Dr. Zamboni said CCSVI is a true vascular pathology with many variants. One such variant is compression of the vein where balloon angioplasty does not deliver a successful, long-term outcome. In these cases an invasive, open vein repair might be the best solution. He also reviewed the data using SPECT and PET imaging as way to image increase in brain perfusion after PTA. Dr. Zamboni discusses his presentation, the future of CCSVI, and his space odyssey in an Alliance exclusive video interview which will be posted on the Alliance website.
Slides available http://www.veithsymposium.org/abstracts/2014/vei/236.pdf
Dr. Jean-Baptiste Ricco (France)
Is The CCSVI Concept In MS Valid: Results Of A Meta-analysis
Slides available http://www.veithsymposium.org/abstracts/2014/vei/243.pdf
Dr Ivo Petrov - (Bulgaria)
Vein PTA Helps Selected MS Patients With CCSVI: There Is No Doubt: Stem Cell Therapy May Also Be Beneficial
Slides available http://www.veithsymposium.org/abstracts/2014/vei/237.pdf
Dr. Albert Lomeo –
The Omohyoid Muscle Can Be A Cause of Venous Compression Leading to CCSVI: Documentation and Relief By Resection
Slides available http://www.veithsymposium.org/abstracts/2014/vei/238.pdf
Dr. David Spence –
Regarding CCSVI and MS, A Skeptic's View
Slides available http://www.veithsymposium.org/abstracts/2014/vei/240.pdf
Dr. Nelson Hopkins – (Univ. of Buffalo)
Update on the RCT Of Venous Balloon Angioplasty vs Venography Placebo: What Does It Tell Us
Slides available http://www.veithsymposium.org/abstracts/2014/vei/245.pdf
We will announce on Facebook the posting of the video interviews with Dr. Paolo Zamboni and Dr. Michael Dake. I think you will find them quite interesting.
Thank you for your continued support of CCSVI Alliance.
Sharon Richardson, President
