Controversial New Study Shines New Light on the Cause of Multiple Sclerosis

The 2.5 million individuals suffering from multiple sclerosis may have renewed hope in an alternative treatment for the debilitating disease.  Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease with no cure, and although there are multiple medications to help with the symptoms, they often wear off over time.  With MS, the body’s cells attack the immune system, damaging myelin, which is the protective substance surrounding the nerves.  As the myelin is further destroyed, the messages between the brain and various parts of the body are disrupted.  These disruptions cause problems with walking, grasping, eating, urinating, etc.  Most difficult of all, however, is that MS progressively worsens, even with the treatment of prescription drugs.  Although the drugs may help to slow the progression, eventually the progressive nature of the disease takes over.

The new theory behind why multiple sclerosis occurs sprung from research by Dr. Paolo Zamboni from the Vascular Diseases Center at the University of Ferrara in Italy.  In 2002, he opined that individuals may suffer from MS due to blockages in the veins that drain the brain.  With the use of Doppler ultrasound techniques, Dr. Zamboni found that the narrowing of veins caused blood to flow back into the brain, calling the phenomenon chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI).  He further noted that this pattern resulted in immune system cells to transverse the body’s protective blood and brain barrier, thereby damaging the nerves.  His research also indicated that a surplus of iron may also contribute to MS.  His radical theories were welcomed with a lot of caution from the MS community and the Multiple Sclerosis Society, which cited the need for additional research.  Even Dr. Zamboni himself has encouraged other doctors to perform research using this hypothesis.

Many doctors and researchers have taken up the challenge to discover whether CCSVI and iron deposits may play significant roles in the development of MS.  In their proposed trials, the researchers will test patients who have MS, patients who have other neurological disorders, and others who are healthy.  They will use Doppler ultrasounds to investigate vein blockages and blood flow, as well as MRI exams to measure iron build-up in the brain.  If the trial outcomes support Dr. Zamboni’s theories, new therapies may be available to patients to eradicate MS.

Dr. Zamboni’s team performed some angioplasties on MS patients and also put stents in the veins of others.  Some of the patients had a reoccurrence of vein narrowing after the angioplasty procedure, while others significantly reduced exacerbations of the disease.  These mixed results simply indicate a need to have broader trials and possibly, new medical technologies.

Although these theories and possible therapies are in the infancy stage, many who suffer from the disease are hopeful for an alternative treatment.  Sufferers find their bodies responding differently on a daily basis and having to change drugs every couple of years to obtain a desired result of decreasing exacerbations.  These exacerbations and the unpredictability of the disease in general make it difficult for people to engage in hobbies, have a job, or maintain their daily lives.  Even if these individuals want to work, the disease itself may make it an impossibility, even with drug treatment.  In these cases, a person may apply for social security disability benefits, as there is currently no long term solution for MS.  Not being able to work, exercise, and have traditional normal lives is a heavy burden on those with multiple sclerosis.  This radical new theory may provide an alternative to MS sufferers, as well as a new understanding of the causes of MS and what factors may exacerbate the disease.