Prevalence study of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in patients with multiple sclerosis: preliminary data

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). From November 2009 to February 2010, 74 participants (40 MS patients and 34 healthy controls) were enrolled in a randomised singleblind prospective study. All participants underwent ultrasonography (US) to detect signs of CCSVI. CCSVI was detected in 55% of patients in the MS group and 35% in the control group; the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.089). In our experience, a slight difference exists in the prevalence of CCSVI between MS and healthy controls, but it is not as yet clear which parameters may be most significant. This preliminary study failed to show a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of CCSVI among patients affected by MS. It did, however, reveal a tendency that requires a larger number of patients to achieve statistically significant results.