Posted on 11/26/2009 5:25:02 PM PST by decimon
US scientists are testing a radical new theory that multiple sclerosis (MS) is caused by blockages in the veins that drain the brain.
The University of Buffalo team were intrigued by the work of Italian researcher Dr Paolo Zamboni who claims 90% of MS is caused by narrowed veins.
He says the restricted drainage, visible on scans, injures the brain leading to MS.
He has already widened the blockages in a handful of patients.
The US team want to replicate his earlier work before treating patients.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
There was a blog entry posted somewheres about it.
Seems as though this theory is getting a very cold reception at the national and international MS support groups. The blogger totally shredded the American MS foundation because if you go to their website, they kind of pooh-pooh the theory and basically tell people there is no good reason to get the blood blockage test.
Thanks for posting. Very, very interesting.
He has already widened the blockages in a handful of patients.
What’s the result?
I’d like to know, I have it.
I don't get that. Probably a good idea to get those blocked veins cleared anyway, no?
MS patients likely won't care if Zamboni's theories are correct if the operation works.
Here's an article where a Canadian naysayer took some heat from MS suffers: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/expert+downplays+Italian+surgeon+treatment/2262182/story.html
"“The problem I have is that you take Dr. Zamboni’s work very lightly, and, quite frankly, you haven’t done any better,” Mike Sastre said during the question-and-answer session. His wife, Linda Hume-Sastre, has lived with MS for almost seven years."
“This I would do,” Baich said. “It’s a very simple surgery, compared to two years of chemotherapy. In three years, I have gone from being normal to now. So where am I going to be in two or three more years? I don’t have the time. Neither do most of the people here.”
The naysayers may prove correct but I hope not.
The link in post #7 gives more anecdote.
What I have found is exercise and a decent diet are working. The ABC drugs and Reibif are something I want no parts of.
Thanks. And wow! very interesting.
I don’t get the MS foundation’s reluctance and even what seems to be an outright stand against testing/open blockage....I’d hate to think they are worried about their own livelihoods. I mean cure MS and there would basically be no need for a MS foundation.
If Zamboni found the blockages with ultrasound then isn’t that something you could have done yourself? I’ve had just one experience with ultrasound but they seem to have found my liver and surrounding organs easily enough.
Yes it is good to see this - please ping me if you post future articles on this subject. (Have a friend with MS)
From the same article I URLed in post #5.
“All I want to say is give the man a chance, give the people here a chance who haven’t been helped very much by what you’re promoting,” Sastre said. “If they get better using something very simple, you lose a lot of research money, and so does the MS Society.”
You're not the only cynic.
The existing MS infrastructure has been making a mint for decades... and now a fairly simple procedure could CURE it? Don’t you think they are going to put up a fight to protect their golden goose??
I don’t keep ping lists but I’ll try to remember you. Sorry to say, my memory is not anything to bet on.
Thanks for posting. Hope this US study pushes this theory forward, and it leads to some positive treatments!
No problem - thanks.
I'd like to think otherwise but there would be a conflict of interest there.
Agreed. I like seeing it tested here.
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