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NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) has announced that it will be considering guidance to the NHS on balloon angioplasty with or without stenting as treatment for CCSVI.


Chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is a theory developed by Paolo Zamboni, a vascular surgeon at the University of Ferrara in Italy. His theory is that stenosis (an abnormal narrowing or obstruction) in blood vessels that take blood from the brain allows a build up of iron. This is then able to cross the blood-brain barrier and cause inflammation and damage to cells in the central nervous system, leading to MS symptoms.

It has been proposed that CCSVI can be treated by surgical procedures either by inflating balloons (balloon angioplasty) to open the narrowed veins or by inserting a stent (mesh tube) to support the vein.

A consultation document about the safety and efficacy of the surgical procedures will be issued summer 2011 with a provisional publication date for the final guidance set for the autumn.

Summary

NICE has been notified about this procedure and will consider it as part of the Institute’s work programme.

The Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee (IPAC) will consider this procedure and NICE will issue an Interventional Procedures Consultation Document about its safety and efficacy for 4 weeks public consultation. IPAC will then review the consultation document in the light of comments received and produce a Final Interventional Procedures Document, which will be considered by NICE before guidance is issued to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

If you wish to be alerted to developments regarding this procedure, including the release of the consultation document, please express your interest at the top of the page.

Description

It is possible that there is a link between blocked veins in the neck and progression of multiple sclerosis. This procedure aims to open blocked veins by inflating a small balloon in the vein, allowing for better blood flow.

Details

Topic area:
Specialty:
Specialist advice sought from:
Association of British Neurologists (ABN)
British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR)
British Society of Neuroradiology (BSNR)
Date notified to NICE:04 June 2010
Provisional consultation date:Summer 2011
Provisional publication date:Autumn 2011
Contact details:

Contact NICE about this projectip@nice.org.uk
Technical lead
(for procedure specific enquiries or comments) Nicola Sloan
Contact Address:
Interventional Procedures Programme
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA
Links:

This page was last updated: 15 April 2011