EDMONTON — The Italian researcher behind the controversial 'liberation' treatment for multiple sclerosis patients has written a letter to Alberta's provincial health board, calling its position statement on the treatment "extremely confusing" and "irresponsible."

In an Oct. 5 letter addressed to Ken Hughes, chairman of Alberta Health Services, Dr. Paolo Zamboni said he found the Alberta position statement "extremely confusing because it mixes facts, fiction and assumptions . . .

"It is simply naive not to think that CCSVI (the narrowing of veins) significantly affects MS and (to) discourage research in the field. Moreover, it is irresponsible to criticize the pilot study on the value of angioplasty, given the fact that the current standard of care for MS is incapable of preventing progression to disability."

In August, Alberta Health issued a strongly-worded position paper urging MS sufferers against seeking out the treatment because it is unproven and could have serious health side-effects.

"People with MS should be wary about getting information solely from media stories and reports or from patients' blogs," the paper said. "Be careful about where you get information and where you go for treatment."

The Oct. 5 letter was drafted by Zamboni and Fabio Roversi-Monaco, who set up the Fondazione Hilarescere Foundation in Bologna, Spain, to support medical research into diseases that don't have clear causes or treatments with satisfactory results.

In a 2008 study, Zamboni reported 90 per cent of MS patients had malformed or blocked veins in the neck that couldn't adequately drain blood from the brain. Zamboni believes a buildup of iron in the brain ensues from this blockage, causing vertigo, fatigue, vision problems and loss of sensation.