Endovascular Treatment of CCSVI for MS

Society of Interventional Radiology Supports Research for New MS Treatments

Recognizing that venous interventions may potentially play an important role in treating some patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis - an incurable, disabling disease - the Society of Interventional Radiology has issued a position statement indicating its support for high-quality clinical research to determine the safety and effectiveness of interventional MS treatments. SIR's position statement is endorsed by the Canadian Interventional Radiology Association and was published in the September 2010 Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.

SIR Position Statement

Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology Special Communications: "Interventional Endovascular Management of Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Position Statement by the Society of Interventional Radiology, Endorsed by the Canadian Interventional Radiology Association"

Press Releases

Society of Interventional Radiology Supports Research for New M.S. Treatments: Position Statement in September Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology Outlines Society's Stance as It Actively Promotes and Expedites Needed Research, Recognizes Potential Value of Interventional Treatment Options for Vulnerable Patients (Aug. 26, 2010)

Who Are Interventional Radiologists?

Interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments. They offer the most in-depth knowledge of the least invasive treatments available coupled with diagnostic and clinical experience across all specialties. They use X-rays, MRI and other imaging to advance a catheter in the body, usually in an artery, to treat at the source of the disease non-surgically. As the inventors of angioplasty and the catheter-delivered stent, which were first used in the legs to treat peripheral arterial disease, interventional radiologists pioneered minimally invasive modern medicine.

Today many conditions that once required surgery can be treated nonsurgically by interventional radiologists. Interventional radiology treatments offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery.

Find an Interventional Radiologist

To find an interventional radiologist in your area, click on SIR's Doctor Finder.

Read about interventional radiology breakthroughs in SIR's Press Releases and In the News sections.

Select Reference List of Relevant Papers on Endovascular Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis

  1. Sundstrom P, Wahlin A, Ambarki K, Birgander R, Eklund A, Malm J. Venous and cerebrospinal fluid flow in multiple sclerosis: A case-control study (pages 255-259). Article first published online: Annals of Neurology, Aug. 2, 2010.
  2. Doepp F, Paul F, Valdueza JM, Schmierer K, Schreiber SJ. No cerebrocervical venous congestion in patients with multiple sclerosis (pages 173-183). Article first published online: Annals of Neurology, June 11, 2010.
  3. Marriott JJ, Miyasaki JM, Gronseth G, O'Connor PW. Evidence Report: The efficacy and safety of mitoxantrone (Novantrone) in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Am J Neurol 2010; 74:1463-1470.
  4. Goodin DS, Frohman EM, Garmany GP Jr., Halper J, Likosky WH, Lublin FD, Silberberg DH, Stuart WH, van den Noort S. Disease modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis. Report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the MS Council for Clinical Practice Guidelines. Am J Neurol 2002; 58:169-178.
  5. Jones JL, Coles AJ. New treatment strategies in multiple sclerosis. Exp Neurol 2010.
  6. Tremlett H, Zhao Y, Rieckmann P, Hutchinson M. New perspectives in the natural history of multiple sclerosis. Neurology 2010; 74:2004-2015./li>
  7. Mayr WT, Pittock SJ, McClelland RL, Jorgensen NW, Noseworthy MD, Rodriguez M. Incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1985-2000. Neurology 2003; 61:1373-1377.
  8. Hirtz D, Thurman DJ, Gwinn-Hardy K, Mohamed M, Chaudhuri AR, Zalutsky R. How common are the "common" neurologic disorders? Neurology 2007; 68:326-337.
  9. Malagoni AM, Galeotti R, Menegatti E, Manfredini F, Basaglia N, Salvi F, Zamboni P. Is chronic fatigue the symptom of venous insufficiency associated with multiple sclerosis? A longitudinal pilot study. Int Angiol 2010; 29:176-182.
  10. Zamboni P, Galeotti R, Menegatti E, Malagoni AM, Gianesini S, Bartolomei H, Mascoli F, Salvi F. A prospective open-label study of endovascular treatment of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. J Vasc Surb 2009; 50:1348-1358.
  11. Simka M, Kostecki J, Zaniewski M, Majewski E, Hartel M. Extracranial Doppler sonographic criteria of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in the patients with multiple sclerosis. Int Angiol 2010; 29:109-114.
  12. Al-Omari MH, Rousan LA. Internal jugular vein morphology and hemodynamics in patients with multiple sclerosis. Int Angiol 2010; 29:115-120.
  13. Zamboni P, Menegatti E, Weinstock-Guttman B, Schirda C, Cox JL, Malagoni AM, Hojnacki D, Kennedy C, Carl E, Dwyer MG, Bergsland N, Galeotti R, Hussein S, Bartolomei I, Salvi F, Ramanathan M, Zivadinov R. CSF dynamics and brain volume in multiple sclerosis are associated with extracranial venous flow anomalies: a pilot study. Int Angiol 2010; 29:140-148..
  14. Singh AV, Zamboni P. Anomalous venous blood flow and iron deposition in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism 2009; 29:1867-1878.
  15. Embry AF. Integrating CCSVI and CNS autoimmunity in a disease model for MS. Int Angiol 2010; 29:93-94.
  16. Zamboni P, Galeotti R, Menegatti E, Malagoni AM, Tacconi G, Dall'Ara S, Bartomolomei I, Salvi F. Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in patients with multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2009; 80:392-399.