Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) in People with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that affects from 13,000 to 18,000 people in Québec. To date, there is no cure for this disease.

In 2009, the published research findings of an Italian physician, Dr Paolo Zamboni, generated considerable interest in patients and in the scientific community. This researcher advanced the hypothesis that MS may be caused by chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and that venous angioplasty, or venoplasty, may be the appropriate treatment for this syndrome.

Despite the many warnings that scientific bodies have issued about the lack of evidence concerning Dr Zamboni’s research results, several patients with MS have taken the initiative to travel to private medical clinics abroad in order to receive the proposed treatment, which is recognized neither in Canada nor in Québec. Considering the risks that patients face in being treated abroad, the Québec division of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (MSSC) asked the Minister of Health and Social Services to consider the need to develop a follow-up guide for these patients.

This report provides an update of the available scientific evidence concerning the hypothesis of a causal relationship between CCSVI and MS, and the proposed treatment.