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Multiple sclerosis

Extracranial venous angioplasty is ineffective to treat MS

Nature Reviews Neurology volume 14, pages 129–130 (2018)Cite this article

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A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, Brave Dreams, has shown no clinical or radiological benefit of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) to correct chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). These results finally settle the scientific debate over whether PTA can improve clinical, radiological and symptomatic outcomes in this patient population.

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Acknowledgements

Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Department of Neurology, University of Buffalo, New York, USA, has received financial support for CCSVI-related research from Direct-MS, the Jacquemin Family Foundation, the Bronfman Foundation, the Flower MS Foundation and various smaller donors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 100 High Street, Buffalo, 14203, New York, USA

    Robert Zivadinov

  2. Department of Neurology, Jacobs Multiple Sclerosis Center, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 100 High Street, Buffalo, 14203, New York, USA

    Bianca Weinstock-Guttman

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  1. Robert Zivadinov
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  2. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman
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Correspondence to Robert Zivadinov.

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Competing interests

R.Z. has received financial support for research activities from Genzyme-Sanofi, Novartis, Quintiles/IMS, Protembis and Mapi Pharma. He has also received personal compensation from Novartis, Sanofi Genzyme, EMD Serono, Celgene and Novartis for speaking and consultant services. B.W.-G. has received honoraria as a speaker and consultant for Biogen Idec, Teva Pharmaceuticals, EMD Serono, Sanofi Genzyme, Novartis and Acorda. She has also received research funding from Biogen Idec, Teva Pharmaceuticals, EMD Serono, Genzyme-Sanofi, Novartis and Acorda.

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Zivadinov, R., Weinstock-Guttman, B. Extracranial venous angioplasty is ineffective to treat MS. Nat Rev Neurol 14, 129–130 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2017.180

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