More than half of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the University of Buffalo's study on CCSVI causing MS were showing blockages and many are already citing this as encouraging, including Dr. Robert Zivadinov, the principal investigator.
"Our findings indicate this is a real thing, and it's important to let patients and physicians know that," says Dr. Zivadinov, the principal investigator. "Based on our numbers, we believe diagnostic testing should be offered to MS patients."
The preliminary results show that more than 55 percent of the MS patients had a narrowing of the extracranial veins, veins situated or occurring outside the skull, in Doppler ultrasound tests and when the 10.2 percent of subjects with borderline results were excluded, the percentage rose to 62.5.
These results have not been peer reviewed or published as of yet, so even though it is hard to draw black or white conclusions, many multiple sclerosis patients will be thrilled with the news. Dr. Zivadinov is asking for "cautious optimism."
He plans on presenting the entire study's results at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in April and he and other Buffalo physicians will start treating some MS patients for the blockages for the 2nd half of the study in March.
They are seeking grants for their estimated $5 million study and MS societies have put together a panel of experts that are thought to be making grant-funding decisions in June.
Once again, we are looking at a "wait and see" approach, but with the urgency that is overtaking many scientists, doctors and their multiple sclerosis patients, the money is being spent at the rate of millions, expecting to rise to around a billion by this time next year, regarding MS studies.
With studies like the University of Adelaide researchers' being done, on top of the excitement of the CCSVI, close to a billion is not to be taken lightly.
(Next article will appear within a few short hours regarding another of yesterday's findings)
For those who live in Lima, Ohio, the Northwestern Ohio MS Chapter can be reached at: Tomahawk Drive at (419) 897-7263. They are located approximately an hour and a half from Lima, Ohio and 45 minutes from Findlay, Ohio. For directions please click here at Google Maps.
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Sources: http://www.buffalonews.com
Comments
I hope they put them Grants through ? isnt this the same doctor that had the stemcell discovery or something like that a few articles ago
I see these results from the other angle - almost half of the people with MS DIDN'T have this blockage and almost of a quarter of the 'healthy' control group did. Regardless of this, these are important finding and there is something here that needs exploring (and the big charities need to have a hand in funding this), but it's not as black and white as the first study published by the Italian chap suggested.
Would love for this to lead to a treatment (even if only for half of us), but wary that amongst the good work the charlatans and snake oil men will again try and get into this market to sell speculative treatments to vulnerable people.
Your missing the point. Only half of MS patients were found to have this blockage, so what it proved was this is not a cause of MS nor can is it a cure, The original trial by Dr. Zamboni had 65 patients and all had this blockage, meaning it could possible be a cause of MS. With these trial results showing only half of MS patients have this blockage it means it can't be a cause of MS or a cure for MS...it becomes at most a symptom relief treatment. And a possibility of an area for more research..although this fact has been known for a long time, it was re-invented with a dazzling new name "the liberation procedure"
And a possibility of Symptom relief for only 50% of MS patients, I am uncertain why this is being reported as a great victory for CCSVI and Dr Zamboni "Liberation" procedure?
This is great work, I'm linking it to my CCSVI stories...thanks!
Also, don't neglect to note: "when the 10.2 percent of subjects with borderline results were excluded, the percentage rose to 62.5.
That is significant.
A list of Dr.Robert Zivadinov's published articles can be found at Lancet dot com. Check under Medline for 39 articles and Lancet Journals for 2 articles.
His MS research appears to be extensive and not directed toward stem cell treatment. If I have a 50% chance of being a candidate for a potential treatment with hope for a cure I think that is of great worth. It may be just another disappointment, or it may lead to new knowledge. It is a different approach.
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