| Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency as a Cause of Multiple Sclerosis: Controversy and Reality. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 22311713 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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OPINION STATEMENT: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a relapsing and progressive disorder of the central nervous system. It is characterized most commonly by episodes of clinical worsening, followed by clinical improvement. Pathologically, MS is associated with focal areas of myelin destruction, inflammation, and axonal transection ("demyelinating plaques") in the brain and spinal cord. Traditionally, MS has been considered an autoimmune disorder, with the primary pathophysiology arising from an errant immune system. Recent work has raised the possibility that MS is not caused primarily by an immune abnormality but may instead arise from venous anomalies affecting the jugular and/or azygos venous systems. This condition has been called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). It has been proposed that CCSVI may be pathogenic in MS, causing venous back pressure and iron deposition, with a secondary immune response. Some investigators have proceeded to unblinded nonrandomized angioplasty and stenting procedures in patients with CCSVI, with anecdotal reports of symptom improvement. Because of conflicting data on the presence of CCSVI and the absence of controlled trials of CCSVI intervention, the current standard of clinical care is neither to evaluate multiple sclerosis (MS) patients for CCSVI anomalies, nor to intervene with procedures to alter such anomalies. There is intense interest and ongoing work to evaluate the presence of venous anomalies in MS patients as well as in normal controls and patients with other neurologic conditions; to characterize such anomalies, if present; and to further understand whether the concept of a "backpressure" pathology is borne out by the evidence. If CCSVI is indeed a pathogenic mechanism for some subset of the MS population, this would dramatically change the focus of attention for therapeutic endeavors and monitoring for this population and would bring MS therapeutics firmly into the area of vascular intervention. On the other hand, the history of MS research contains many novel and potentially paradigm-shifting ideas that were later disproved by other investigators. |
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Authors:
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Claudiu I Diaconu; Devon Conway; Robert J Fox; Alexander Rae-Grant |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2012-2-5 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Current treatment options in cardiovascular medicine Volume: - ISSN: 1534-3189 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2012 Feb |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2012-2-7 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9815942 Medline TA: Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
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Cleveland Clinic, Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, 9500 Euclid Avenue, U10, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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