title: Phlebographic study does not show differences between patients with MS and control subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypothetical correlation between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and MS has gained the attention of patients and the scientific community. Studies performed by echo-color Doppler ultrasonography have shown different results, and it is necessary to use more objective diagnostic techniques. The aim of our study was to evaluate the presence of stenoses affecting azygos veins and internal jugular veins by use of venography in patients with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 2 groups of subjects who underwent venography: the study group included 29 patients with MS and the control group included 15 healthy volunteers. The ileo-lumbar plexus, the azygos, and the internal jugular veins were selectively catheterized. We considered any cross-sectional area reduction of the venous lumen >50% to be a significant stenosis. Furthermore, blood pressure was measured in the studied vessels at the stenotic internal jugular veins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Selective venography showed at least 1 significant venous stenosis in 84% of subjects examined, without significant difference between the study group and the control group. Positive venography chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency patterns were found in 50% of all subjects examined, without any significant difference between the 2 groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis failed to assess any significant association between the presence of a positive venography and MS condition. The difference between the median blood pressure of stenotic and nonstenotic internal jugular veins was not statistically significant (P = .46).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data exclude any direct correlation between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and MS because venous abnormalities were equally present in both groups.
authors: From the Departments of Diagnostic Imaging (M.S., S.F., F.G., S.M., A.M., V.C., M.F., R.F., R.G., G.S.).
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Stefanini
authors: From the Departments of Diagnostic Imaging (M.S., S.F., F.G., S.M., A.M., V.C., M.F., R.F., R.G., G.S.) sebas575@yahoo.it.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Fabiano
authors: From the Departments of Diagnostic Imaging (M.S., S.F., F.G., S.M., A.M., V.C., M.F., R.F., R.G., G.S.).
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Garaci
authors: From the Departments of Diagnostic Imaging (M.S., S.F., F.G., S.M., A.M., V.C., M.F., R.F., R.G., G.S.).
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Marziali
authors: From the Departments of Diagnostic Imaging (M.S., S.F., F.G., S.M., A.M., V.C., M.F., R.F., R.G., G.S.).
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Meschini
authors: From the Departments of Diagnostic Imaging (M.S., S.F., F.G., S.M., A.M., V.C., M.F., R.F., R.G., G.S.).
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Cama
authors: From the Departments of Diagnostic Imaging (M.S., S.F., F.G., S.M., A.M., V.C., M.F., R.F., R.G., G.S.).
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fornari
authors: Neuroscience (S.R., D.C.), University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, ItalySanta Lucia Foundation/European Center for Brain Research (CERC) (S.R., D.C.), Rome, Italy.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Rossi
authors: Neuroscience (S.R., D.C.), University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, ItalySanta Lucia Foundation/European Center for Brain Research (CERC) (S.R., D.C.), Rome, Italy.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Centonze
authors: From the Departments of Diagnostic Imaging (M.S., S.F., F.G., S.M., A.M., V.C., M.F., R.F., R.G., G.S.).
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Gandini
authors: From the Departments of Diagnostic Imaging (M.S., S.F., F.G., S.M., A.M., V.C., M.F., R.F., R.G., G.S.).
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Simonetti
authors: From the Departments of Diagnostic Imaging (M.S., S.F., F.G., S.M., A.M., V.C., M.F., R.F., R.G., G.S.).
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Floris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*