Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) has long been labeled as a neurological disease with a high incidence among Canadians, women in particular. The disease first manifests itself in young adulthood (between the ages of 15 and 40 years). Areas of demyelination with a proliferation of astrocytes are found scattered in the white matter of MS patients, this leads to muscle weakness, numbness, disequilibrium, sphincter disturbance and other neurological dysfunctions. Recently Dr. Paolo Zamboni, a vascular surgeon at the University of Ferrara in Italy, found that many multiple sclerosis patients have a narrowing of some of the neck veins responsible for draining blood from the brain. According to Dr. Zamboni, this narrowing of the blood vessels leads to the deposit of iron in the defected veins, which restricts blood flow and is responsible for some of the MS complications. Dr. Zamboni achieved unblocking of the veins through angioplasty, a procedure normally used to open arteries affected by atherosclerosis. In one of his trials, 65 patients were given the procedure, which decreased the rate of occurrence of lesions, from 50% to 12% in patients. There was an improvement in mental and physical quality of life in most of the patients in this trial. Ethical questions are also discussed in this review. Dr. Zamboni`s studies suggest a genetic inheritance of factors that may lead to MS. Should health care providers institute a screening procedure in newborns? Would these screenings be mandatory? Would the screenings be free?
Highlights
Introduction research suggests that MS is linked to a vascular condition, rather than an immune system dysfunction (Zamboni et Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most serious and com- al., 2009), as previously believed
The validation of Dr mon neurological conditions today. This disease is charac- Zamboni’s discovery, through extensive research and clini- terized by areas of degeneration of the myelin sheaths of cal trials, may potentiate the modification of medical textnerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord. These degenerat- books worldwide. ed areas heal through sclerosis, forming multiple sclerotic plaques (Crowley, 2010)
Dr Zamboni theorized that immune system cells, along The competence-press model, which deals with an individwith the iron, enter the brain
Summary
Introduction research suggests thatMS is linked to a vascular condition, rather than an immune system dysfunction (Zamboni et Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most serious and com- al., 2009), as previously believed. Dr Paolo Zamboni, a vascular surgeon at the University of Ferrara in Italy, found that many multiple sclerosis patients have a narrowing of some of the neck veins responsible for draining blood from the brain.
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