found to have constricted blood vessels in their brains, a US study says.
The preliminary results are from the first 500 patients enrolled in a trial at the University of Buffalo. The abnormality was found in 56.4% of MS patients and also in 22.4% of healthy controls.
The MS Society said it was intriguing but not proof that this caused MS – as one leading expert claims.
Testing theory : The New York researchers were testing a theory from Italian researcher, Dr Paolo Zamboni who claims that 90% of MS is caused by narrowed veins.
| These results are intriguing but it is important to remember that although people with MS may show evidence of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in screening studies, there’s no proof as yet that this phenomenon is a cause of MS, nor that treating it would have an effect on MSDr Doug Brown, MS Society |
He says the restricted vessels prevent the blood from draining fast enough and injure the brain by causing a build up of iron which leads to MS.
He has already widened the blockages in a handful of patients including his wife.
MS is a long-term inflammatory condition of the central nervous system which affects the transfer of messages from the nervous system to the rest of the body.
The Buffalo team used Doppler ultrasound to scan the patients in different body postures to view the direction of venous blood flow.
The 500 MS patients, both adults and children, also underwent MRI scans of the brain to measure iron deposits in surrounding areas of the brain. The full results will be presented at an American neurology conference in April. There were 161 healthy controls.
Robert Zivadinov who led the study at the University of Buffalo, said he was “cautiously optimistic and excited” about the preliminary data. “They show that narrowing of the extracranial veins, at the very least, is an important association in multiple sclerosis. “We will know more when the MRI and other data collected in this study are available.”
Dr Doug Brown, Biomedical Research Manager at the MS Society, said: “These results are intriguing but it is important to remember that although people with MS may show evidence of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in screening studies, there’s no proof as yet that this phenomenon is a cause of MS, nor that treating it would have an effect on MS. “The next step is to determine what this actually means for MS and an investigation into whether there’s any potential therapeutic benefit from treatment will be pivotal for this novel theory.”
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
http://www.24dunia.com/english-news/shownews/0/Brain-blood-vessels-clue-to-MS/5309604.html
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Are the South African specialists doing anything about this?
Is any procedure along these lines planned for sunny SA??
If so where would I go for it??
Linda
Dear fellow MS’ers,
It is with great interest that I notice your website. I have had MS for the past 13 years. There might be some truth in the brain blood vessel approach.
However, neurologists also need to check out the effect of progesterone and colon /gut health. Thyroid hormone and cortisol levels should also be looked at. My bloodtests done a month ago, revealed low thyroid, vit D and estrogen. Vit B12 was actually high. A naturopath believed mercury was the causing of my MS….
My conclusion is that MS is a multi-factorial disease which can be caused by many factors (it is not a one-size fit’s all disease). There also needs to be looked at LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) which has immune modulating properties and have been used with great success in the US. It is not costly, however, I hear in SA about this “expensive” treatment! Why do they want to cash in on this?!!
We honestly need to look at what is causing this disease (and it could be different for everyone!) and not be eager to offer expensive medication so quickly. And let’s look at true integrative medicine, without allopathic medicine berating and sneering at naturopathy and homeopathy and likewise with allopathic medicine.
I am not held ransom by only one discipline or protocol. I investigate anything that might help, like a chiropracter, acupuncture, reiki etc.
I will be watching your website with great interest, and to know I have fellow human beings going through this daunting disease, is a comfort in a way. By the way, I am a great believer in the power of the mind and I truly believe that I will conquer this disease. I will just NEVER stop looking for answers……..
Clarice
Clarice, Vitamin D3 insufficiency in utero has been linked to malformation of veins e.g. the jugular. Also, although D3 supplements can assist the vascular system post utero, its unlikely it would fix what was already broken in utero… although its possible it could prevent further deterioration.
Also couldn’t the mercury deposits also be caused by the lack of drainage from the brain via the jugular – just like lead? Its also a heavy metal, hence the metal contamination prevalent in MS. Remember that the cells in the gut and the brain are very similar. It turns out that both our gut and our brain originate early in embryogenesis from the same clump of tissue which divides during fetal development… probably all at about the same time as the Vitamin D3 insufficiency.
The gut has opiate receptors much like the brain hence the LDN effectiveness. Apparently many Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease patients are constipated… I wonder if this also applies to MS?!!