This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Int Angiol. 2010 Apr;29(2):140-8.

CSF dynamics and brain volume in multiple sclerosis are associated with extracranial venous flow anomalies: a pilot study.
Zamboni P, Menegatti E, Weinstock-Guttman B, Schirda C, Cox JL, Malagoni AM, Hojnacki D, Kennedy C, Carl E, Dwyer MG, Bergsland N, Galeotti R, Hussein S, Bartolomei I, Salvi F, Ramanathan M, Zivadinov R.

Vascular Diseases Center, University of Ferrara-Bellaria Neurosciences, Ferrara and Bologna, Italy - zmp@unife.it.

AIM: We previously reported unexpectedly robust associations between vascular haemodynamic (VH) anomalies in the principal extracranial cerebral veins, causing chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the VH changes and MRI measures of MS disease severity in a cross sectional survey. METHODS: The number of anomalous VH criteria were measured using an echo-color Doppler, whereas CSF flow, atrophy and lesion measures were obtained from quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis in sixteen consecutive relapsing-remitting MS patients, (mean age: 36.1+/-SD 7.3 years, disease duration: 7.5+/-1.9 years and median EDSS: 2.5) and in 8 healthy controls (HC) with similar age and sex distributions. RESULTS: All 16 MS patients investigated and none of the HCs met the VH criteria for CCSVI (P<0.0001). MS patients showed significantly lower net CSF flow compared to the HC (P=0.038) that was associated with number of anomalous VH criteria present (r=0.79, P<0.001). Moreover, increases in the number of anomalous VH criteria present were negatively associated with lower whole brain volume (Spearman R=-0.5, P=0.05). CONCLUSION: VH changes occur more frequently in MS patients than controls. Altered VH is associated with abnormal CSF flow dynamics and decreased brain volume.

PMID: 20351670 [PubMed - in process]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20351670

wow lots of new papers. I hope they all get added to the sticky.

CSF stand for cerebral spinal fluid doesnt it?

MS patients showed significantly lower net CSF flow compared to the HC (P=0.038)

so all those lumbar punctures on ms patients and each of them test pressure and nobody measured the flow rate and compared it to normals? hmm I don't know how to measure the flow of csf.

Billmeik wrote:so all those lumbar punctures on ms patients and each of them test pressure and nobody measured the flow rate and compared it to normals? hmm I don't know how to measure the flow of csf.

I think without a hypothesis they don't even look for the right data or have anything to make of it once they see it.

Thank goodness for Zamboni.