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The Sad, Sad State of CCSVI Research in Alberta

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:07 pm
by Direct-MS
The Sad, Sad State of CCSVI Research in Alberta
Ashton Embry, December 23rd, 2010

Introduction
It is well established that Alberta and Saskatchewan have by far the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world with a prevalence of at least 360/100,000 and an incidence of 24/100,000. This is about double to triple the rates of any other area in the world where MS is considered common (e.g. Scandinavia). Other important facts are that there are no effective treatments for MS and there is no good scientific evidence that any of the currently prescribed drugs do anything in regards to slowing disease progression.
Given the above, one would think that both Alberta and Saskatchewan, which spend huge sums of money every year on treating persons with MS to no avail, would be most interested in determining whether or not CCSVI treatment was of significant value for MS and perhaps might even halt disease progression if applied soon enough. The humanitarian and financial benefits which would flow from an effective treatment for MS are enormous and CCSVI treatment currently represents our best hope for such a treatment.
The current scientific data indicate that CCSVI treatment may well live up to such expectations. The key science includes:
1) Impaired venous drainage (CCSVI) has been found to be highly associated with MS with over 90% of 10,000+ persons examined with venography (gold standard) having indisputable CCSVI. In this regard a few negative (and highly quoted) studies of MS/CCSVI association can be readily discounted given the use of equivocal, non-invasive techniques by inexperienced operators in very small populations.
2) Many of the venous blockages that cause CCSVI are clearly congenital in origin and thus precede the MS disease process (i.e. CCSVI is a primarily a contributor to MS not an effect).
3) Established biological mechanisms associated with CCSVI can readily account for aspects of the MS disease process and also help to explain previously inexplicable features of MS.
4) Thousands of reliable and well documented accounts of substantial symptom relief following CCSVI treatment have been made available. Notably, no other therapy in the 170 year history of MS has ever produced such numerous benefits in so many people.
Given MS is a huge and very expensive problem within both jurisdictions, it is most instructive to contrast the response of the Alberta government to the immediate and important need for proper research on the value of CCSVI treatment with that of the neighbouring Saskatchewan government.

Alberta Response
The Alberta response to the need for such research is not acceptable and does not meet the needs of persons with MS. The main strategy of the government is to fund a three year collection of data from Albertans who have had CCSVI treatment in a wide variety of clinics throughout the world. The only explanation for the creation of such a bizarre and worthless project is that it was concocted by the Alberta neurologists who are on record as claiming CCSVI is nonsense (equivalent to Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny according to Dr Brad Stewart, a University of Alberta neurologist). Furthermore, the head of the Calgary MS Clinic, Dr Louanne Metz, gave a public talk on CCSVI in which she denigrated the concept, implied Dr Michael Dake, a renown vascular doctor in the USA who has done CCSVI treatments, is a killer, and stated in no uncertain terms that Avis Favaro, the health reporter who broke the CCSVI story, is a liar. Tellingly, the MS Society of Canada, which had promised to put up a video of the Metz talk on their website, declined to do so. You know when MSSC refuses to put up an anti-CCSVI piece, it must be beyond bad.
The Alberta MS neurologists also produced an Alberta Health Services “Information Sheet on MS and CCSVI” and it was so awful that Dr Zamboni, the originator of the CCSVI concept, felt compelled to write a rebuttal to the Alberta government. I also wrote a detailed critique of the AHS “Information” Sheet which was filled with numerous factual errors, misleading statements, half truths and blatant, fear mongering (An Open Letter to the Honourable Gene Zwozdesky <shortened url>). The bottom line is that the actions, statements and publications of the Alberta MS neurologists demonstrate beyond question a very strong, anti-CCSVI bias which has no scientific basis.
The overt, anti-CCSVI prejudices of the Alberta neurological fraternity readily explain how and why such a pointless, observational study was created and sold to the provincial government. The key is in the length of the study. It is planned to start in mid-2011, will run for 3 years, and will be followed by up to a year of data analysis and publication. This takes us well into 2015 before Alberta can even think about doing any serious research on the value CCSVI treatment. It doesn’t take a rock scientist to see that the planned, worthless “study” is nothing more than a ruse by the neurologists to stall any meaningful research on CCSVI treatment for at least 5 years.
In case anyone is wondering why the MS neurological community is so anti-CCSVI and wants desperately to delay any worthwhile research for as long as possible, the answer lies in the fact that MS is rampant in Alberta. This has resulted in many people being readily available for clinical trials to test a myriad of drugs and, over the last 20 years, Alberta neurologists have gotten large sums of money from the MS drug companies through testing, prescribing and advocating for the use of proposed MS drugs. The thought that a non-drug treatment such as venous angioplasty might supplant the rich MS drug trade is an unthinkable nightmare to many neurologists.
The bottom line is that the neurologists have a major financial conflict of interest when it comes to any advice on CCSVI treatment research and the fact that Alberta Health Minister, Gene Zwozdesky, looks to them for such advice is indefensible and definitely not in the best interests of either persons with MS or all Albertans for that matter.
In summary, the Health Ministry of Alberta has adopted a very unfortunate and harmful policy when it comes to CCSVI by supporting a worthless, observational study which will only accomplish one thing –a very long delay (5 years minimum) of the required clinical study of the benefits of CCSVI treatment. The only question that remains is whether or not the Alberta government has been taken in by the self-serving neurologists or is part of the ugly charade to ensure no worthwhile clinical research on CCSVI for the foreseeable future. Regardless, the people of Alberta, especially those affected by MS, are being badly served by the provincial government on this issue.

Saskatchewan Response
The absurdity of the Alberta response to the need for CCSVI treatment is made even more obvious by the response of the Saskatchewan government to the same requirement. Notably, the Saskatchewan government has ignored the advice of the self-serving neurologists in Saskatchewan and has put aside $5,000,000 to fund a proper, clinical trial of the effectiveness of CCSVI treatment for MS. The trial will likely begin in 2011. Given it is imperative to establish as soon as possible if CCSVI treatment is a worthwhile or not, this is a responsible, intelligent and objective response to the available science and the obvious needs of those with MS.

Reason for Different Responses
So why is the Saskatchewan government acting in such an intelligent and responsible manner whereas the Alberta government is doing exactly the opposite by concocting a flawed, thoughtless and eventually harmful response to the need for CCSVI treatment research. The answer lies in the abilities and sensibilities of the involved politicians. In Saskatchewan, Premier Wall and his health minister, Don McMorris, have wisely gone out and seen for themselves the results of CCSVI treatment and, not surprisingly, have been suitably impressed. It is clear that Premier Stelmach and his health minister, Gene Zwozdesky, have not bothered to gather their own data but instead have sat in their plush offices and relied on the highly biased and self-serving information they have received from neurologists.

Summary
The Alberta government has chosen a path of purposefully delaying any meaningful research on CCSVI and MS for at least 5 years by supporting a long term, worthless, observational study. The government’s irresponsible action stems from highly subjective advice from neurologists and, predictably, such an action is not in the best health interests of persons with MS but rather is in the best financial interests of the neurologists.
In stark contrast to this, the Saskatchewan government has ignored the advice of neurologists and has acted responsibly and caringly by funding a research project to test the effectiveness of CCSVI treatment. The diametrically opposed reactions of the two governments, to the critical need of determining if CCSVI treatment is effective, clearly demonstrate the importance of strong and intelligent leadership in government, something which is sadly lacking in Alberta but which is flourishing in Saskatchewan.

THEY ARE CRIMINALS AND WILL GO TO JAIL

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:06 pm
by Gordon
TIME WILL SHOW THAT CCSVI IS THE REASON PEOPLE GET MS. PEOPL.E ARE DIEING AND WE HAVE A PAIR OF PIG FARMERS RUNNING AROUND CHASING THEIR TAILS.



TO THINK THAT WE HAVE COME UP THE MIDDLE AS STELMACH RUNNING THE MOST IMPORTANT STATE -PROIVINCE IN NORTH AMERICA IS A LITTERALY A SCARRY SCARRY THOUGHT.

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:31 pm
by Lyon
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 5:28 pm
by esta
dr embry
you always have my support...

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 9:59 am
by DrCumming
Lyon,

You are probably correct - we will see that "normals" have a fairly significant incidence of venous narrowings. However, this does not mean the theory of CCSVI is wrong. There likely are multiple compound factors leading to the development of MS.

As an example, in my varicose vein practice, I will often see patients with a few smaller veins that cause signifcant symtpoms and yet I will see patients with extensive varicosities that no have no complaints.

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 5:35 am
by NHE
Lyon wrote:Sure, maybe healthy controls don't have impaired drainage and maybe it defies logic that they would, but don't you think that is something that should actually be determined and not just assumed?
In the preliminary results from Kuwait, only 7% of 100 healthy controls had impaired venous flow via Doppler analysis. In contrast, MS patients had between 81-96% (with Doppler and MRV).

http://www.ccsvikuwait.com/Details.aspx?d=4
Control group N=100 patient without MS

Kuwaiti: non Kuwaiti % ···· 48:52
Male: female % ············ 25:75
Age min-max ··············· 23-57
mean ±SD ·················· 39.7±7.8
Positive Duplex ··········· 7%
Normal Duplex ············· 93%



Study group N=100 patient with MS

Started colour Doppler screening of neck veins as protocol of Prof. Zamboni

Kuwaiti: non Kuwaiti % ···· 100
Male: female % ············ 48:52
Age min-max ··············· 22-57
Positive Duplex ··········· 87%
Positive MRV ·············· 96%



NHE

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 7:17 am
by CCSVIhusband
Thanks NHE for this terrific response!

Even though we all know the information, it's hard to remember where we've seen it all (even those of us without cogfog).

It's hard to continue to remember where it is, and re-link it again and again when these "skeptics" launch their attacks in a new thread in this forum over and over.

Thanks for the informative, truthful and documented post. Answers the question quite nicely. That's a HUGE discrepancy between "normals" and "persons with CCSVI --> MS"!!! Something most science based folks would call "STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT".

:D

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:20 am
by HappyPoet
Welcome to TIMS, Dr. Cummings,

I see Lyon has welcomed you in his usual soapbox manner of repeatedly ignoring evidence contrary to his opinion -- pay him no mind.

EDIT: It seems that Lyon had second thoughts about the rude way he welcomed you and removed his post.

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:35 am
by Lyon
..

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:43 am
by Cece
mjc701 wrote:Lyon,

You are probably correct - we will see that "normals" have a fairly significant incidence of venous narrowings. However, this does not mean the theory of CCSVI is wrong. There likely are multiple compound factors leading to the development of MS.

As an example, in my varicose vein practice, I will often see patients with a few smaller veins that cause signifcant symtpoms and yet I will see patients with extensive varicosities that no have no complaints.
I agree about the multiple compound factors, I think having a genetically or environmentally-caused hyperactive immune system is probably a big one for how the body reacts to the effects of CCSVI.

For myself, I've been fortunate, because my CCSVI seems to be severe (I have been affected since childhood, my fatigue is severe) but my MS or accumulation of disability has been extremely slow.

Dr. Cumming, I don't know if you plan to return and post more or not but your stock went up for having posted at all. If you plan to go to ISET next month or the conference in Chicago in March, I hope you will continue to connect with our other CCSVI investigators.

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:29 am
by CCSVIhusband
Lyon wrote:
HappyPoet wrote:Welcome to TIMS, Dr. Cumming,

I see Lyon has welcomed you in his usual soapbox manner of repeatedly ignoring evidence contrary to his opinion -- pay him no mind.

EDIT: It seems that Lyon had second thoughts about the rude way he welcomed you and removed his post.

There was nothing wrong with what I posted and I'm not the one who removed it.

I welcomed Dr Cumming and reminded him that
mjc701 wrote:However, this does not mean the theory of CCSVI is wrong.
in short, CCSVI remains an unproven theory and as such isn't considered correct by default.

NHE wrote: In the preliminary results from Kuwait, only 7% of 100 healthy controls had impaired venous flow via Doppler analysis. In contrast, MS patients had between 81-96% (with Doppler and MRV).
Thanks NHE, it seems we've had this very dialogue before.

Since you provided this evidence and are familiar with it, rather than my going to the trouble of reading it could you just tell me what percentage of those with MS as compared to percentage of controls experienced catheter venography?


And now moving on from the first part of the attack on CCSVI to the second (where the circular logic truly starts) ... which will portend a third, and when necessary a forth or fifth ... we all know the drill.

The Kuwait study is to test CCSVI & MS ... it states it clearly on its page (there are inclusion and exclusion criteria, please read the site for yourself - www.ccsvikuwait.com -)

Perhaps if you, Lyon, are TRULY INTERESTED, we - you and I - can go as two people withOUT MS and see if we have CCSVI via catheter venography. I've offered to pay for this for you ... and even get your wife treated ... This will serve as evidence for you, and several others ... and we won't be able to knock your lack of personal experience anymore. (a win-win for both sides)

but you've said "you want nothing to do with me" ... as a cop out, in my opinion. Which means you really want no personal evidence for or against CCSVI, which allows you to continue your ignorant attacking posts without repercussions if and when, as we all suspect it will, the CCSVI/MS connection proves out. Plausible deniability, I guess, is a double edged sword if you "want" it.

I did see you were happy that L is doing better post-CCSVI liberation. That's a new tone, and a pleasant surprise. There are hundreds or thousands of others who are experiencing what L is ... be sure to wish them the same success. :D

Any time you want to take me up on that offer to get venography to prove that you and I, without MS, don't have CCSVI ... I'm willing to find a doctor and pay for it. Let me know. We can meet in the middle, somewhere in Ohio probably (Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo) ... heck I'll come all the way to Michigan if that's what it takes.

Go ahead, and tell everyone you want nothing to do with me AGAIN ... yawn.

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:06 pm
by garyak
I will kick in $1000 - I am very good for it ! If he takes this offer PM me I will send monies to clinic.

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 5:47 pm
by CCSVIhusband
Don't think we have to worry about it Gary ... he's posted 7 times in the other thread, but isn't responding to this one ... I'm guessing, deliberately. :wink:

I'm just trying to bump it up ... maybe he just missed our offers. I don't want that to happen - this could be a big step in proving normals (one with personal experience with who you could call pro-CCSVI, and one with no personal experience with who you could call "skeptical" of CCSVI) don't have CCSVI.

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 6:14 pm
by Cece
In a different thread, Dr. Sclafani offered to forego his fee in response to scorpion's desire to have ten normal patients and ten MS patients tested blindly and see if he could do a parlor trick and tell who had MS and who did not.

If his offer was genuine and yours and garyak's offers were genuine, perhaps you should talk and see what the expense would be!

But I would not press the offer on Lyon when it has been turned down. The decision to pursue treatment is a personal one.

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:21 pm
by Lyon
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