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He said there is data emerging that MS is caused by a blockage of veins that drain the brain and spinal cord. It took off as a social media-emphasized theory of MS.

“Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, is an interesting theory, but it’s even more interesting from a social point of view because it’s a theory MS patients have embraced and have pushed onto funding agencies,” Fox said. “Some of them are asking for it. Some patients have gotten it in the United States or have gone overseas to get it. The grant is for whether the theory is valid.”

He said the theory is based upon an ultrasound assessment of veins, neck and the brain. The original discoverer found 100 percent of MS patients have this abnormality. The second discovery came from an Italian vascular surgeon performing balloon stretching of the veins and reporting improvement of patients’ functions. Fox said some patients say it’s a cure.

The study’s initial results were presented at a recent European MS meeting. It was found there are abnormalities within the jugular veins in MS patients that appear to be at a higher frequency than in non-MS patients.