Impressions from Chicago
Impressions from Chicago – CCSVI Alliance’s educational symposium “Doctors’ Roundtable Discussion: CCSVI & MS” and the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual meeting   The CCSVI Alliance educational symposium “Doctors’ Roundtable Discussion:  CCSVI & MS” was a huge success. A diverse audience of patients and healthcare professionals had the opportunity to listen to the perspectives of our esteemed panel of CCSVI leaders.  Dr. Gary Siskin’s slide presentation on the basics of CCSVI was not only entertaining, it was informative.  As moderator, Dr. Michael Dake did an incredible job of keeping the panel discussion lively, on task and on time.  Dr. Ziv Haskal reminded us that the hallmark of clinical science is reproducibility; therefore, randomized trials that are replicated two to three times are required to validate initial research.  In answer to Dr. Alvertona Noronha’s question, “What is the hypothesis of a clinical trial”, Dr. Lindsay Machan answered “Does intervening in jugular veins with patients with MS alter the outcome of those patients measurably?”  The audience voiced their agreement with a round of applause. Some of the other topics covered were MS symptoms that respond to PTA (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty); imaging techniques…fMRI, ultrasound, IVUS; and, the engagement of neurologists. A video tape of the discussion will be posted on the CCSVI Alliance website as soon as it is edited.  The discussion is as good as those we attended at the SIR meetings.     We want to publicly thank Christine Righeimer and her Chicago volunteers.  The Alliance could not have offered this event without their help and support.  We offer a special thanks to Carol and Scott Schumacher (MSketeers),  who graciously opened their suite at the Hyatt Regency to MS patients prior to the symposium and then again to the doctors and special guests after the symposium.     We also want to thank Nicki Watts (Tampa Walk-n-Roll) and all those who supported our recent fundraising event in Florida.  It is because of you that the Alliance was able to organize and host the event in Chicago.  We accomplished something very special, and this was recognized by the professional community at SIR.   As you know, the SIR Annual meeting was being held in Chicago. CCSVI Alliance had a booth in the exhibition hall – we were among the other medical societies, including the American Medical Association, which was located next to us.  The medical professionals who visited our booth were genuinely interested in learning about who we are and what our vision is.  What an honor it was to represent not only the CCSVI Alliance organization but the MS patient community    I believe that some of you may have thought that CCSVI was going to be the main topic of discussion at SIR, when in fact it was one of many.  The abstracts in the Poster sessions detailed research in oncology therapies, stroke interventions, multidisciplinary treatment of tumors, nanotechnology applications, hemodialysis, vascular imaging, and many, many more.  The point is….CCSVI and its relationship to MS was not the only game in town, but it was one of the hottest topics which was not only discussed in hands on workshops but was vigorously debated.   Dr. Gary Siskin, Albany Medical Center, and Dr. Jim Reekers, Amsterdam Academic Medical Center, weighed in during the plenary session  “The (Sterile) Gloves Are Off:  Live Debate on IR Controversies” moderated by Dr. Michael Dake.  One of the propositions was whether IRs should be treating CCSVI in multiple sclerosis patients before clinically controlled studies are completed.  Dr. Siskin had his work cut out for him; he offered a good argument, but in the end he lost the debate to Dr. Reekers with the IRs voting to wait for the research.   One last thought….we would like to express our admiration and our appreciation to the doctors and scientists who are committed to doing the research into CCSVI in the hope of validating the CCSVI theory and helping as many people as possible.  We thank you all.   Sharon Richardson President, CCSVI Alliance