Authors: A Ghezzi G Comi A Federico
Publish Date: 2010/12/15
Volume: 32, Issue: 1, Pages: 17-21
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis MS is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS caused by the interplay of genetic and environmental factors In the last years it has been suggested that an abnormal venous drainage due to stenosis or malformation of the internal jugular and/or azygous veins may play a major pathogenetic role in MS This abnormality called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency CCSVI could result in increased permeability of blood brain barrier local iron deposition and secondary multifocal inflammation In the present paper literature data in favour and against this hypothesis are reported A great variability of CCSVI has been found in both MS patients ranging from 0 to 100 and in control subjects from 0 to 23 This large variability is explained by methodological aspects problems in assessing CCSVI and differences among clinical series It is urgent to perform appropriate epidemiological studies to define the possible relationship between CCSVI and MS
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