Video: CCSVI and The Liberation Treatment- A Whole New Approach to MS

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Canadian television network CTV tonight aired a 20 minute news report on Dr. Paolo Zamboni and the "Liberation Procedure", a surgical intervention he uses to clear the blocked veins he's consistently found in MS patients. Zamboni has come up with a radical new theory regarding the cause of MS, called CCSVI (Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency), which states that MS is caused, in whole or in part, by the abnormal narrowing of the veins that drain blood from the central nervous system (the jugular and azygous veins). I've previously written about CCSVI in two posts, which contain links to pertinent research and other information, here and here.

The CCSVI theory hypothesizes that the blockages found can cause blood to flow back into the CNS, depositing iron in the brain and spine, which leads to nerve cell damage and death. The body responds to this damage with the immune response that has thus far been the focus of most modern MS research.

The CCSVI theory doesn't address some of the distinctive features of the MS population (geographic distribution, male: female ratios, the existence of MS "clusters", etc.) but could possibly explain much of what has been observed about the disease. Furthermore, the vascular abnormalities seen in CCSVI can be corrected surgically, potentially giving people with MS the hope of a safe and effective treatment.

Please keep in mind that despite the enthusiasm that this theory has generated among MS patients, there is still much to be proven. This can only be done through studies that confirm Dr. Zamboni's findings, some of which are already underway.

The link below will take you to the CTV site that hosts the video news report, broken into two parts. Also included on the page are additional segments featuring Dr. Zamboni being interviewed on various aspects of his findings and results. For MS patients, this is must-see TV...

CTV News The Liberation Treatment: A whole new approach to MS