A consortium of MS researchers recently published a paper in Nature on a study of MS genetics. Two of the prominent researchers, Alasdair Compston of Cambridge and David Hafler of Harvard, used the press release of the findings to attack the concept of CCSVI being an important part of MS. The bottom line is their findings have no relevance for the question of whether or not CCSVI is a key part of MS.

The Hafler and Compston comments which include such classics as  “The discovery strongly suggests MS originates as an inflammatory immune response and casts aside eccentric and maverick ideas that it is caused by venous abnormalities” (Compston)  and “I hope the new research can help quell “hysteria” surrounding the theory MS is caused by blocked neck veins” (Hafler) are nothing more than baseless propaganda which feebly attempts to cast doubt on CCSVI.

I read the genetic study yesterday and it simply tells us what we already know, most of the identified genes for MS are related to the immune system. This is not a surprise given that there is no doubt the immune system plays a significant role in MS.

However, the question remains, is the immune component primary or secondary. The current data we have now best fits with the model that MS is primarily a neurodegenerative disease and that the immune response is secondary. Whether or not CCSVI drives the primary neurodegeneration is beside the point. All we can say is that CCSVI is currently the best candidate for causing the primary neurodegeneration and, until a better candidate comes along, I’ll accept CCSVI as the primary driver of MS.

Basically all the “Big Gene” study tells us is that most persons with MS are genetically susceptible to developing a dysregulated immune system due to one or more environmental factors such as an EBV infection at the time of low immune regulation (ie low vitamin D). When such a dysregulated immune system meets all the myelin antigens released due to primary neurodegeneration, you end up with MS. This model - primary neurodegeneration followed by a genetically and environmentally generated dysregulated immune response - explains everything we know about MS.

A recent paper on MS as a neurodegenerative disease expresses this well. Stys (2010) writes “one could equally argue that the strong genetic influence simply reflects a genetic bias of the aberrant immune system, rather than of the "real" disease itself.” The “real disease” referred to by Stys is primary degeneration presumably caused by CCSVI. For those interested in all the arguments which support MS as a primary degenerative disease, I highly recommend the Stys (2010) paper (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21246931)

It is not surprising that Compston and Hafler are fighting CCSVI because they both have huge financial ties to the MS pharmaceutical industry and are "big names" in the MS research world. The anti-CCSVI press release on their findings is just more propaganda to fight the CCSVI steamroller that threatens their financial well being, not to mention their lofty standing in the MS research world. It is sad to see them stoop to this new low, but cash flow and academic reputation trump everything in the world of MS "research".