Medpedia

An Italian scientist with a controversial theory suggesting multiple sclerosis can be treated as a vascular disease says he welcomes skepticism about his findings.

"This is normal when there is a new finding in science," Dr. Paolo Zamboni told Canada AM Monday. "I think that this is positive because it stimulates debate."

Zamboni was in Hamilton, Ont. Sunday for a scientific workshop looking into the relationship between MS and the newly-discovered condition called chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI).

"The meeting yesterday was quite successful because we met a lot of colleagues from all over the world that are actually working on our theory," said Zamboni, who is a professor of medicine at the University of Ferrara in Italy.

Zamboni's team believes that CCSVI causes veins in the neck and upper chest to twist, narrow or become blocked; in some cases, these veins never form at all. The result is poor blood drainage from the brain.

Zamboni has found that more than 90 per cent of patients with MS have these malformed veins, and improper blood flow from the brain.

The Italian scientist says a surgical procedure to restore proper blood flow, which he dubbed the "Liberation treatment," can reduce MS symptoms.

In a study of 65 patients who underwent the procedure, released in the Journal of Vascular Surgery, Zamboni says that 50 per cent of patients with the most common form of MS were relapse-free for at least 18 months.

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