title: Transcranial brain photoplethysmography to study the venules of cerebral cortex in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the utility of a transcranial brain photoplethysmography parameter as a potential marker for patients with multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 38 patients affected by multiple sclerosis, according to the revised McDonald criteria (12 males and 26 females, mean age 41.1 ± 8.5 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale mean value 2.6 ± 2.1) and compared them with 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. By means of transcranial brain photoplethysmography, a safe and non-invasive technology, we measured the increase in cerebral blood volume during compression for 10 s of the internal jugular veins of both sides in sitting position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cerebral blood volume increase was significantly smaller in the multiple sclerosis patients (left frontal cortex: -58%, p < 0.0001; right frontal cortex: -59%, p < 0.0001) compared with the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study reveals that a minor increase in cerebral blood volume on the frontal cortex of both sides in sitting position is associated with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and might be a new marker.
authors: Department of Neurology, S. Pio Hospital, Vasto (CH), Italy stefano.viola@email.it.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Viola
authors: Emergency Medical Service, S.C. De Lellis Hospital, Atessa (CH), Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Viola
authors: Department of Neurology, S. Pio Hospital, Vasto (CH), Italy.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Fiorelli
authors: Department of Neurology, S. Pio Hospital, Vasto (CH), Italy.
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Buongarzone
authors: Department of Neurology, S. Pio Hospital, Vasto (CH), Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Litterio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001810:Blood Volume; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017156:Photoplethysmography; D014699:Venules / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: CCSVI; Queckenstedt’s manoeuvre; Transcranial brain photoplethysmography; cerebral venular disorder; multiple sclerosis