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Thanks to Mylène Therrien for the following info on research from the 1970s on demyelination of the spine due to venous hypertension and malformations in the veins surrounding the spine. The 80 patients tested and treated in these studies had paraplegia and myeolapthies of the spine. They were treated for venous stenosis in the 1970s. Dr. Zamboni has referenced this research in his publications, but I hadn't seen these abstracts or understood the history.
Here are the abstracts and links I found from the info given in her posting:

Acta Radiol Suppl. 1976;347:395-401.
[Intraspinal venous hypertension due to multiple anomalies in the caval system. A major cause of myelopathies].
[Article in French]
Aboulker J, Aubin ML, Leriche H, Guiraudon G, Ancri D, Metzger J.
Abstract
Increased venous intraspinal pressure is described as a venous system disease, resulting in numerous unexplained paraplegias and tetraplegias. The chronic venous stasis in the intraspinal plexuses, into which the circulation of the spinal cord is drained, is due to the association of multiple abnormalities (stenoses, compressions, thromboses) on the major pathways of the caval and azygos system. The abnormalities, most of which are not known, are demonstrated by a special procedure, the cavo-spinal phlebography, and some of them are subjected to surgery.
PMID:
207125 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/207125

Acta Radiol Suppl. 1976;347:415-7.
[Cavo-spinal phlebography in myelopathies. Stenoses of internal jugular and azygos veins, venous compressions and thromboses].
[Article in French]
Leriche H, Aubin ML, Aboulker J.
Abstract
Increased intraspinal venous pressure, resulting according to ABOULKER in numerous spastic paraplegias and quadriplegias is due to multiple venous abnormalities demonstrated by cavo-spinal phlebography. The most frequent are stenoses of the internal jugular veins, the left renal, the left iliac veins, the azygos veins and compressions of the innominate venous trunks. These abnormalities cause a permanent stasis in the intraspinal plexuses through excessive supply or insufficient drainage. Out of 80 patients, 60 per cent had at least 2 abnormalities, 38 per cent at least 3 abnormalities.
PMID:
207127 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/207127

Acta Radiol Suppl. 1976;347:403-13.
[Cavo-spinal phlebography in myelopathies of venous origin. Application of the method in 115 cases].
[Article in French]
Aubin ML, Leriche H, Aboulker J, Ernest C, Ecoiffier J, Metzger J.
Abstract
The intraspinal venous stasis, described by ABOULKER as the cause of numerous myelopathies, is due to the addition of multiple venous abnormalities, demonstrated by cavospinal phlebography. The venae cavae and their major affluents and the prespinal system (lumbar and ascending lumbar veins, azygos, hemi-azygos, right superior intercostal and vertebral veins) are explored by catheterization. Cavo-spinal phlebography reveals multiple obstacles and the resulting stasis in the intraspinal plexus.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/207126

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The following quote is Mylene writing about her conversation with Dr. Garel, the IR who performed these procedures, and her translations from the research, originally written in French.
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I spent 45 minutes on the phone with Dr.Garel from St-Justine Hosptial who was the IR who did the catheterization under Dr.Aboulker's study in the 70's. Interestingly enough. the results and the outcome of that experiemental treatment were exactly what Zamboni is finding. Here is a part of his work, translated from French to English from me. Note that : First : You should know that I do not know when to use the word " stenoses " vs " stenosis"

The basis for surgical indication : To whom was surgery proposed ?

Any patients who had a major cause of spinal cord problems of unknown origin resulting in progressive disabilities for whom no other therapeutic alternatives were available to them and whose cavo-spinal phlebography examination revealed multiple abnormalities of the major pathways of the caval and azygous system.

Note that it was a new and an experimental procedure proposed and well-explained to the patients at the time ( in the 1970's). Only those whose paraplegia were progressing and regularly worsening were offered the surgery.

Aboulker and al., were investigating the multiple abnormalities ( stenosis-compression-thrombosis) which reduce or block the circulation in the large veins of the caval system, resulting in spinal venous stasis as a result of excessive supply and inadequate drainage. That would result in impairment in function of the cord, just like any organ when return circulation is chronically impaired.

HERE ARE THE RESULTS of the cavo-spinal phlebography done on 80 patients who experienced unexplained spastic paraplegias and quadraplegias.

Out of the 80 patients, only 21 patients had the left renal vein investigated.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, ABNORMALITIES WERE FOUND AT ALL LEVELS OF THE VENOUS SYSTEM. The left primitive iliac vein was found to be among the most frequent abnormalities observed. The other ones were stenoses of the IJVs, the left renal vein, the azygous veins and the compressions of the innominate venous trunks.

Out of the 80 patients, 60% had at least 2 abnormalities and 38% had at least 3.

FREQUENCY OF THE ABNORMALITIES:

LUMBAR LEVEL:

ILIAC VEIN
- left primitive iliac vein showed recanalized old thrombus in 5% of the patients.
- 48% of the patients showed a stenosis of the left primitive iliac vein.
(Note that an upstream stasis were always found with those obstructions.)
- 34% of the patients had an abnormality of the intraspinal dorsal and lumbar plexuses and an abnormality of the azygous system as well..

RENAL VEIN: - Note that only 21 patients out of 80 patients had their left renal vein investigated.
-47,6% of those 21 patients had a compression of their left renal vein.
-30% of the 21 patients had an abnormality in the intraspinal dorsal and lumbar plexuses and in the azygous system

DORSAL AND AZYGOUS LEVEL:

-12% of the patients had either a stenosis or a compression of the arch of the azygous ( " crosse de l'azygos ") and hemiazygous. Those abnormalities resulted in all those cases in a distal stasis in the intraspinal plexus.

AT THE CERVICAL LEVEL:

-A venous abnormality at the cervical level was found in 77% of the 80 patients.
- 65% of the 80 patients had a stenosis of the IJV ( again here , don't know when to use stenosis or stenose)
( 16% = bilateral stenosis ; 49% = unilateral stenosis where 33% were mainly found on the left side whereas 16% were found on the right side).
-12% were found to have a bone or arterial compression of the innominate venous trunks.

ALL PATIENTS WHO HAD AN ABNORMALITY AT THE CERVICAL LEVEL ( IJV stenosis or compression of the innominate venous trunks) HAD AN ABNORMAL SUPPLY OF THE CERVICAL INTRASPINAL PLEXUS WITH GENERALLY IMPORTANT DILATATION OF THE VERTEBRAL VEINS.

SUMMARY:

Out of the 80 patients :

-15% had a normal venous cavo-spinal phlebography.
-25% had one abnormality
-21% had 2 abnormalities
-26% had 3 abnormalities
-12% had 4 and more abnormalities.

Note that those percentages are lower (less important ) than reality because the roots (" les racines") of the azygous were seen only 41 times out of 80 and because the left renal vein was investigated in only 21 patients out of 80 patients. So when the roots of the azygous and the renal vein were investigated, abnormalities were found in 50% of the cases ( one time out of two).

TO CONCLUDE:

PERMANENT STASIS IN THE INTRASPINAL PLEXUSES THROUGH EXCESSIVE SUPPLY OR INSUFFICIENT DRAINAGE CAUSED BY ABNORMALITIES WERE FOUND AS FOLLOW:

- Out of 80 patients, 60% had at least 2 abnormalities whereas 38% had at least 3 abnormalities.
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thanks, Mylène . I'm floored. This is not new...
The researcher, Jose Aboulker (1920-2009) was a pioneer of neurosurgery and neurology in France and a renowned anti-Nazi partisan.
http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-prev ... ze=largest

wow.
Joan

frodo wrote:just curiosity. Is MS officially considered a myelopathy?

Cece wrote:I don't understand why nothing came of this or of Dr. Schelling's work in the 80s. To be so close....

Cece wrote:I don't understand why nothing came of this or of Dr. Schelling's work in the 80s. To be so close....