Introduction
Recent
preliminary studies have suggested that a phenomenon called Chronic
Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI), a reported abnormality in
blood drainage from the brain and spinal cord, may contribute to nervous
system damage in MS.
This hypothesis has been put forth by Dr.
Paolo Zamboni from the University of Ferrara in Italy. Based on the
results of his initial preliminary findings published in June 2009 from a
study of approximately 65 patients, Dr. Zamboni and colleagues state
that this pilot study warrants a larger and better controlled study to
definitively evaluate the possible impact of CCSVI on the disease
process in MS.
MSIF’sPrinciples for the Promotion of the Quality of Life include that
People
with MS must be empowered to take control of the decisions affecting
their lives and to self-manage the disease as much as possible. To
encourage the highest possible degree of self management, they should be
able to access a broad range of information, advice, and education
regarding the nature of MS, its treatment, and methods for improving
QOL.
The risks and benefits of procedures to treat
CCSVI have not been established by properly controlled clinical trials.
Unless and until strong supportive evidence is produced, and until the
risks of treatment are thoroughly assessed, any procedures to
mechanically correct the purported problem outside of a clinical trial
are not recommended.
MSIF will continue to facilitate an open
exchange of information amongst its members in relation to the research
that is being undertaken. Several MS societies are promoting further
research in CCSVI as a matter of urgency in order to evaluate the
hypothesis of a link with MS, and what could be the short and long term
benefits and risks of treatment.
Q & A
Question (Q) 1: What is CCSVI?
Answer (A):
Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency is a reported abnormality
caused by narrowing of the veins which drain oxygen depleted blood from
the brain and spinal cord. It is theorised that the slowed draining of
blood can cause reflux back into the brain and spine, leading to a lack
of oxygen in the brain and iron deposition in the tissue.
Q 2: What is the connection between CCSVI and MS?
A:
A recent study by Zamboni et al on 65 people with different types of MS
(published in J Neurology Neurosurgery Psychiatry. 2009 Apr; 80 (4):
392-9. Epub. 2008 Dec 5.), compared with 235 people who were healthy or
had other neurological disorders, reported abnormal venous flow in 100%
of MS cases and in none of the people without MS. Venous drainage of the
brain and spinal cord was examined using an ultrasound technique
(Doppler). The researchers also noted that patterns of venous
obstruction differed between people at different stages and courses of
MS although there was no clear relationship between severity of MS and
extent of venous obstruction. The treatment status of the people with MS
did not appear to influence whether they showed signs of CCSVI.
A
further study from the same group in Italy (Journal of Vascular
Surgery, 2009 Dec 50:1348-58) looked at the effects on MS of improving
venous blood flow by a technique called balloon dilation. This
open-label study (not blinded or controlled – see Q3 below) evaluated
the safety and preliminary outcomes of vascular surgery in 65 people
with MS who had previously been diagnosed with CCSVI (35 individuals
with relapsing-remitting MS, 20 with secondary-progressive MS, and 10
with primary-progressive MS). Some positive impacts were reported
including a reduction in new brain lesions on MRI scans and reduction in
the number of relapses experienced by some of the participants in the
trial.
However, results were confounded by a number of factors
including; restenosis in 47% of cases (meaning that internal jugular
veins went back to having restricted blood flow after the procedure),
inconsistency in the timing and type of MRI scans taken and the fact
that participants remained on their Disease Modifying Treatments during
the study period.
These are all major factors that need to be
considered when data from the study is interpreted. Researchers
conducting the study reported that further trials will need to be
conducted to measure the benefits and risks of balloon dilation in
people with MS.
Q 3: Why are blinded controlled trials important?
A:
In controlled trials, “blinding” of participants and researchers as
well as the use of a comparative control group are considered essential
to ensure that the hopes and expectations of the participants and the
researchers do not influence the assessment of the trial outcomes or the
interpretation of the results. So far, none of the procedures conducted
to correct CCSVI have been done in the context of a controlled trial.
Q 4: What does the latest CCSVI research show?
A:
Preliminary results from a large ongoing Combined Transcranial and
Extracranial Venous Doppler Evaluation study at the University at
Buffalo Medical Center aimed at investigating if CCSVI is associated
with MS, were released on February 10, 2010. Doppler scan results were
reported on five specific criteria that affect venous blood flow.
Patients who met at least two of the criteria were considered to have
CCSVI. 289 of the 500 patients enrolled had MS. Of these, at least 56
percent of the MS cohort met the criteria for CCSVI. The same was true
for at least 22 percent of the 163 healthy controls and at least 42
percent of people with other neurological conditions. The results were
substantially different from those reported by Dr Zamboni and suggest
impaired venous flow is not specific for MS.The researchers concluded
that further blinded studies are needed to determine the prevalence and
significance of CCSVI in MS. A second stage of the study will involve
screening a further 500 participants using more advanced screening
methods.
Q 5: What further research is being undertaken into CCSVI?
A:
MS Societies that fund MS research are interested in pursuing all
promising avenues of MS research. In December 2009, the MS societies of
Canada and USA issued an expedited international request for proposals
on CCSVI and MS. Proposals were received from seven countries and final
decisions will be announced on 14 June with projects anticipated to
start on 1 July 2010. An international review panel of MS and vascular
experts has been convened in cooperation with these MS Societies to
ensure an expedited, coordinated response.Click here to see the results of this request for proposals.
Several
MS Societies, including those in Canada, Italy, Netherlands, United
Kingdom and USA will also consider funding projects on CCSVI through
their normal funding process. The Steering Committee of the Italian MS
Foundation (FISM) will evaluate proposals on CCSVI that have been
submitted through their annual call for projects in March. In addition,
FISM has committed €900,000 towards an epidemiological study to confirm
and extend Dr. Zamboni’s findings by evaluating the prevalence of CCSVI
in healthy controls, MS and other neurodegenerative diseases, other
inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system and other systemic
autoimmune diseases. This study plans to enroll more than 1500 subjects
from October and will involve 15 clinical centres. FISM is also
participating in a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the short and
long term efficacy and risks of the venous dilation procedure on
disease progression and symptoms. This study is likely to start in the
second half of 2010.
The MS Society of Canada has also called on
its government to make extra research funding available to speed up
research on CCSVI.
Q 6: Does CCSVI cause MS?
A: At
this point there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions on CCSVI and
MS. Based on what has been published to date, we can only say that in
some people MS may occur in association with impaired venous drainage of
the central nervous system. However this phenomenon has also been
observed in people who do not have MS.
There is not enough
evidence to determine whether obstruction of veins causes MS, or is
caused by MS, or even to determine when this obstruction may occur in
the course of disease.
Q 7: How has CCSVI been treated?
A:
Surgical procedures for CCSVI in MS have used balloon dilation to open
up obstructed veins or insertion of stents into veins to help keep them
open (endovascular surgery). These procedures have been performed on
only a small number of MS patients.
Q 8: What is known about the risks involved in this treatment?
A:
No studies testing the safety and effectiveness of treatments for CCSVI
have reported detailed safety findings to date. Procedures involving
stenting or balloon dilation of the jugular and Azygous veins for the
treatment of CCSVI are of unknown safety.
It is known, however,
that endovascular procedures, like any procedures, do carry risks.
Balloon angioplasty and stenting both carry a small risk of elastic
recoil, rupture of the vein and blood clots. The rates of restenosis
(re-narrowing) are also high. Stenting carries additional risks because
it requires that the patient takes anticoagulant drugs which could lead
to bleeding and also because there is the possibility that the stent
could come loose and migrate towards the heart.
This does not mean
that these procedures would not be considered as a potential treatment
in the future if further research proves that they are safe and
effective at treating MS. At present treatments for CCSVI remain
unproven and it is prudent that any such procedures only be performed as
part of properly regulated controlled clinical trials, especially in
light of adverse events reported to date.
Reports of CCSVI
surgical procedures involving stents resulting in adverse events in
persons with MS include one reported death. According to the Annals of
Neurology, the person died of a haemorrhage in the brain while taking a
blood thinner (anti-coagulant), which is commonly prescribed when stents
are inserted into blood vessels. In another individual, a stent
dislodged and moved to the heart, requiring emergency open heart surgery
to remove the device. MS endovascular surgery was halted at Stanford
University after these two adverse events occurred.
Q 9: Will the treatment of CCSVI be useful for the various forms of MS?
A:
As research on this question is at a very early stage, it is currently
unknown whether this type of treatment will be useful in any form of MS.
More research is looking at possible links between CCSVI and MS, and/or
its effects on MS symptoms and clinical studies on the effects of CCSVI
treatment on MS are needed before it will be considered for approval in
treating people with MS.
Dr. Zamboni has suggested that if
further evidence supports the link between MS and CCSVI, its treatment
may ultimately add to the arsenal of therapies available for MS. He
emphasized the need for more research on his hypothesis, and noted that
it is still not proven whether CCSVI is a cause of MS or related to MS
in some other manner. Dr. Zamboni also noted that people with MS should
remain on their immunomodulatory therapies.
Q 10: Should I have treatment?
A:
The risks and benefits of procedures to treat CCSVI have not been
established by properly controlled clinical trials. Unless and until
strong supportive evidence is produced, and until the risks of treatment
are thoroughly assessed, any procedures to mechanically correct the
purported problem outside of a clinical trial are not recommended.
Read more from MSIF’s member societies:
UK MS Society
A recent comment on theUK MS society’s website, includes criticism of some of the methodology of the study.
US National MS Society
MS Ireland
MS Society of Canada