CCSVI stands for Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency and has been a vital issue in scientific discussions over the last 2 years. As of last year CCSVI was officially classified as belonging to a group of venous malformations (Congres Union Internationale de Phlebologie, Monte Carlo 2009), and has had its symptoms and methods of treatment described.
CCSVI procedure consists of different pathologies: constrictions, stenosis, mostly located near internal cervical veins (vena jugularis interna) and the azygos vein (vena azygos).
This disease has a positive correlation to multiple sclerosis patients. According to data included in a publication by Dr. Zamboni, over 80% of patients with a RR (Relapsing -Remitting) type, more than 90% patients with a SP (secondary progressive) type, and 90% patients with PP (primary -progressive) type meet the criteria for CCSVI and Liberation treatment diagnosis. The fact that a chronic venous inflammation is capable of altering the central nervous system was observed in the 19th century (Rindfleish E. 1863). In the 1980s venous pathologies were observed in patients with MS (Schelling F. 1986).
This topic is still very much an open one and is the subject of many controversial opinions, especially the theory that a venous pathology can signify a primary pathological mechanism in the autoimmune process.
The link between CCSVI and MS has not to date been scientifically confirmed, mostly due to a lack of scientific research based on clinical programs. Accordingly, endovascular treatment - which is provided to MS patients diagnosed with CCSVI and generally produces good results - is not being treated as a standard method of therapy. Due to the relatively short period within which patients treated with this therapy have been observed, it is not yet possible to evaluate any long term effects. However, research results gathered from multiple centers around the world and presented at a CCSVI workshop on Multiple Sclerosis held in Canada in February this year bring some optimistic views to the question of the "reliability" of this type of treatment. There have been reports of major improvement to the neurological state of patients, improvement to bladder control, chronic headaches have disappeared, balance control has improved and chronic fatigue has been relieved.