title: Meta-analysis of the correlation between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a correlation exists between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis of the current literature was performed to evaluate the frequency of CCSVI, diagnosed by echo color Doppler criteria, in patients with MS and in normal controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 19 studies were identified from January 2005 through February 2013; however, 3 studies were excluded due to duplicate data and 3 additional studies because 0 patients fulfilled CCSVI criteria in both MS and control groups. In order to improve homogeneity, 4 outlier studies were also removed from the analysis. Analysis of the remaining 9 studies demonstrated a significant correlation between CCSVI and MS (odds ratio 1.885, P < .0001) with no significant heterogeneity of the studies (I (2) = 18, P = .279).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The meta-analysis demonstrated a correlation between CCSVI and MS. However, there was no evidence that CCSVI has a causative role in MS.
authors.affiliation: 1General Surgery Residency Program, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Brittany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Zwischenberger
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Davenport
authors.forename: Eleftherios S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Xenos
mesh_terms: D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: central nervous system; chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency; color Doppler; multiple sclerosis