Faculty Collaboration Database

Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency: case-control neurosonography results. Ann Neurol 2013 Jun;73(6):721-8

Date

02/19/2013

Pubmed ID

23418024

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3657573

DOI

10.1002/ana.23839

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84881260526 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   19 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). We sought to determine whether neurosonography (NS) provides reliable information on cerebral venous outflow patterns specific to MS.

METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective case-control study of volunteer MS and non-MS participants. A neurosonologist, blind to the subjects' diagnosis, used high-resolution B-mode imaging with color and spectral Doppler to systematically investigate, capture, and record extracranial and intracranial venous drainage. These neuroimaging results were evaluated and scored by an expert blinded to subjects' information and with no interactions with the participants.

RESULTS: Altogether, 276 subjects were studied: 206 with MS and 70 non-MS. MS patients were older than non-MS subjects (48.3±9.9 vs 44.3±11.8 years, p<0.007), with durations from first symptoms and diagnosis of 13.7±10 and 9.9±7.8 years, and Expanded Disability Status Scale of 2.6±2.0. Overall, 82 subjects (29.7%) fulfilled 1 of 5 NS criteria proposed for CCSVI; 13 (4.7%) fulfilled 2 criteria required for diagnosis, and none fulfilled >2 criteria. The distribution of subjects with 0, 1, or 2 criteria did not differ significantly across all diagnostic groupings, between MS and non-MS subjects, or within MS subgroups. CCSVI was present in 7.14% of non-MS and 3.88% of MS patients (p=0.266). No significant differences emerged between MS and non-MS subjects for extracranial or intracranial venous flow rates.

INTERPRETATION: NS findings described as CCSVI are much less prevalent than initially reported, and do not distinguish MS from other subjects. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that CCSVI is causally associated with MS.

Author List

Barreto AD, Brod SA, Bui TT, Jemelka JR, Kramer LA, Ton K, Cohen AM, Lindsey JW, Nelson F, Narayana PA, Wolinsky JS

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Case-Control Studies
Cerebral Veins
Chronic Disease
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis
Neuroimaging
Prospective Studies
Single-Blind Method
Spinal Cord
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
Venous Insufficiency