title: Quantitative ColourDopplerSonography evaluation of cerebral venous outflow: a comparative study between patients with multiple sclerosis and controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Internal Jugular Veins (IJVs) are the principle outflow pathway for intracranial blood in clinostatism condition. In the seated position, IJVs collapse, while Vertebral Veins (VVs) increase the venous outflow and partially compensate the venous drainage. Spinal Epidural Veins are an additional drainage pathway in the seated position. Colour- Doppler-Sonography (CDS) examination is able to demonstrate IJVs and VVs outflow in different postural and respiratory conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate CDS quantification of the cerebral venous outflow (CVF) in healthy subjects and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a group of 27 healthy adults (13 females and 14 males; mean age 37.8 ± 11.2 years), and 52 patients with MS (32 females and 20 males; mean age 42.6 ± 12.1 years), CVF has been measured in clinostatism and in the seated position as the sum of the flow in IJVs and VVs. The difference between CVF in clinostatism and CVF in the seated position (ΔCVF) has been correlated with patients' status (healthy or MS), and a number of clinical variables in MS patients. Statistical analysis was performed by Fisher's exact test, non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis test, and correntropy coefficient. The value of ΔCVF was negative in 59.6% of patients with MS and positive in 96.3% of healthy subjects. Negative ΔCVF values were significantly associated with MS (p<0.0001). There was no significant correlation with clinical variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Negative ΔCVF has a hemodynamic significance, since it reflects an increased venous return in the seated position. This seems to be a pathologic condition. In MS patients, a vascular dysregulation resulting from involvement of the autonomous nervous system may be supposed. ΔCVF value should be included in the quantitative CDS evaluation of the cerebral venous drainage, in order to identify cerebral venous return abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Neuroimaging and Neurointervention, Department of Neurological and Sensorial Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Santa Maria alle Scotte General Hospital, Siena, Italy. l.monti@ao-siena.toscana.it
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Menci
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulivelli
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerase
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bartalini
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piu
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marotti
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leonini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galluzzi
authors.forename: Daniele G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Alfredo E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Casasco
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Venturi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003116:Color; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging