Brain hemodynamic changes associated with chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency are not specific to multiple sclerosis and do not increase its severity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and cerebral hemodynamic parameters and to disclose any possible involvement in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS).


METHODS
The study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The diagnosis of CCSVI was assigned by using specific color Doppler ultrasonographic criteria. Cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time were assessed with dynamic susceptibility contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in 39 patients with MS. Of these, 25 had CCSVI and 14 did not. Twenty-six healthy control subjects were also evaluated, and of these, 14 had CCSVI and 12 did not. Two-way analysis of variance testing was used for statistical analysis, with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Correlation analysis was performed by calculating Spearman coefficients.


RESULTS
Individuals with CCSVI showed cerebral hemodynamic anomalies, such as decreased CBF and CBV, as compared with individuals without CCSVI, without any delay in mean transit time. No significant interaction between MS and CCSVI was found for any hemodynamic parameters. Furthermore, no correlations were found between CBV and CBF values in NAWM or for severity of disability in patients with MS. The MS group showed prolonged mean transit time in the periventricular NAWM, as compared with the control group, and positive correlation was found between mean transit time values and disability scales in patients with MS.


CONCLUSIONS
The data support a role of CCSVI in cerebral hemodynamic changes, such as a decrease of CBV and CBF, regardless of the presence of MS. CCSVI had no effect on neurologic function and disability progression in patients with MS.
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Francesco G
FG
Garaci
Simone
S
Marziali
Alessandro
A
Meschini
Maria
M
Fornari
Silvia
S
Rossi
Milena
M
Melis
Sebastiano
S
Fabiano
Matteo
M
Stefanini
Giovanni
G
Simonetti
Diego
D
Centonze
Roberto
R
Floris
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001810:Blood Volume; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*
D003287:Contrast Media