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Researchers continue with their progress in the seven funded CCSVI studies in MS



Seven research projects investigating CCSVI (Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency) and MS — launched with a $2.4 million investment by the National MS Society and the MS Society of Canada — have reached the two-year milepost.

The funded multi-disciplined researchers have been reporting significant progress in their two-year study goals. As of July 2012, most of the investigators are in the process of completing their projects and expect to do so within the next year. Although the work continues for several of the teams, some are already presenting preliminary results at medical meetings, and all have shared technical advice so that the projects can move forward as smoothly and quickly as possible.

The need for continued work beyond the two-year grant funding period is not uncommon, as practical and logistical issues begin impacting on projected timelines, including such items as:

- Getting proper protocols in place;

- Applying for and gaining approvals from the required Institutional Review Boards in the U.S. or the Research Ethics Board in Canada, a requirement established by regulatory authorities to protect humans involved in research projects;

- Getting technicians and other team members trained on how to conduct appropriate screenings; and

- Recruiting study participants.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/3538

At this point, no connection has been confirmed between CCSVI and MS, in fact, CCSVI appears to occur in many people who do not have MS.

Seven studies, running over their two year deadline, with inconclusive somewhat negatively presented results.

If CCSVI occurs in many people without MS, the question is if those individuals report the symptoms of CCSVI (fatigue, cogfog, poor balance, diminished vision, weakness)?

If CCSVI occurs in many people without MS, is it to a lesser extent than CCSVI occurs in MS, thus confirming the association between CCSVI and MS as well as the potential of CCSVI to be a promoter of MS?

I am ok with the complexity of CCSVI and the complexity of the relationship between CCSVI and MS.

So far Dr. Fox's autopsy study was the best thing to come out of the seven funded studies. Preliminary results were after looking at fifteen cadavers. If they've completed on time, they now have the data on 170 cadavers. Two jugulars per cadaver means 340 jugulars examined for CCSVI. I am eager to hear if the preliminary findings of more intraluminal abnormalities in the MS cadavers has been borne out by the full study.

Title: “A Multi-Modal Assessment of Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency”
Robert J. Fox, M.D.

Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Cleveland, OH
Term/Amount: 7/1/10-6/30/12; $571,261

A series of recent publications have suggested that some people with MS have obstructions in the veins that drain blood in the brain and spinal cord that may contribute to nervous system damage in MS.

Dr. Fox and a multi-disciplinary team are seeking to reproduce these findings in 90 people with MS and 80 control subjects without MS, using various tests, as well as examining vein tissues obtained via autopsy.

Data from these studies will provide a comprehensive foundation upon which to either design further longitudinal and intervention studies, or reject this hypothesis of MS pathogenesis.

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/resear ... index.aspx