title: Disability caused by multiple sclerosis is associated with the number of extra cranial venous stenoses: possible improvement by venous angioplasty. Results of a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) was recently described in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The hypothesis of the vascular aetiology provides a new approach in the investigation and treatment of MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our open-label study included 94 MS patients who fulfilled ultrasound sonographic criteria required for CCSVI. The internal jugular and/or azygous veins by a catheter venography were dilated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 34.8% of the patients unilateral, in 65.2% bilateral venous abnormalities and in 2.1% no luminal obstructions were demonstrated. The patient group with the higher disability score had a significantly higher number of venous lesions (P < 0.005). Significant improvement of clinical disability in relapsing-remitting patients was (P < 0.001) achieved. In our study no stents were used. Re-stenosis occurred in 21.7% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of venous narrowings is higher in more disabled patients. A significant improvement in clinical disability in the relapsing-remitting group was observed.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Centre Ljubljana, Institute of Radiology, Zaloska 7, Slovenia. miro.denislic@gmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Denislic
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Milosevic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zorc
authors.forename: I Zuran D
authors.initials: IZ
authors.lastname: Ravnik
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mendiz
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy