title: Morphological and haemodynamic abnormalities in the jugular veins of patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multiple areas of stenosis and different levels of obstruction of internal jugular and azygous veins (a condition known as cronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) recently emerged as an additional theory to the well-known autoimmune concept, explaining etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of our study was to evaluate internal jugular vein (IJV) morphology and haemodynamic characteristics in patients with MS and compare it with well-matched healthy individuals and to evaluate the prevalence of venous flow abnormalities in both groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four patients with clinically proven MS and 37 healthy individuals were included in our study. In all patients, IJV morphology and haemodynamic characteristics were evaluated by colour Doppler sonography as well as venous flow disorder. The patients were classified into four groups according to MS clinical form presentation. The prevalence of morphological and haemodynamic abnormalities in the IJV were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of stenosing lesion, mostly intraluminal defects like abnormal IJV valves, were observed in 28 patients (43%) in the MS group, and in 17 patients (45.9%) in the control group (P = NS). By adding haemodynamic Doppler information in the IJV venous outflow was significantly different in 42% of MS patients showing flow abnormalities (27/64), as compared with 8.1% of the controls (3/37), P < 0.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our group of patients, patients suffering from MS had significantly more IJV morphological changes and haemodynamic abnormalities when compared with healthy individuals not suffering from MS. These findings can be well demonstrated by non-invasive and cost-effective Doppler ultrasound.
authors: Vascular Surgery Clinic, Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Belgrade University, Heroja Milana Tepića 1 Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Radak
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Kolar
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Tanaskovic
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Sagic
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Antonic
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Mitrasinovic
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Babic
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Nenezic
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Ilijevski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*