Paolo Zamboni, MD, professor of surgery at the University of Ferrara (Ferrara, Italy), was among the 430 presenters at the 37th annual VEITHsymposium™ held at the Hilton New York (New York, NY).

In his November 18th discussion of multiple sclerosis patients who are experiencing decreased blood flow as a result of narrowing of specific veins of the head and thorax, Dr. Zamboni evaluated the risks of surgical intervention as opposed to the possible rewards. His summary was based on two recent pilot studies.

Dr. Zamboni reported, "Narrowing of the veins in the head and neck has been found to be strongly associated with multiple sclerosis, a disabling neurodegenerative disease considered to be autoimmune in nature." As many as 56 to 100 % of MS patients experience narrowing of the veins of the head, neck or both. Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease, meaning that it is a condition in which cells of the brain and spinal cord are lost," concluded Zamboni. Dr. Zamboni delivered a comprehensive overview of the actual status of the art of the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. The condition is confirmed using high-resolution ultrasound.

In the first pilot study, patients were treated with angioplasty or stenting. Patients with narrowing in the vein in the thorax and those with narrowing of the vein in the head both showed significantly lower pressure in their veins after surgery. However, when retested after 18 months, only 53% among those with head vein narrowing had veins that remained cumulatively unobstructed was, while 96% among those whose neck veins had been narrowed were without obstruction.

A second pilot study confirmed similar results. Follow-up of the first study revealed a significant reduction of chronic fatigue, one of the more debilitating symptoms of MS.