| lert: Video released: Paladino fights with reporter |
MS study to be conducted by local doctors
 | Reported by: Kristin Lowman
Email: kristinlowman@fox23news.com Videographer: B. Flynn Editor: B. Flynn Last Update: 12:01 am |
 Angioplasty study for MS Related Links Doctors in the Capital Region now testing a new theory to see if it can help patients with the disease. Its used throughout the body to widen veins and open blockages. Now, doctors are studying angioplasty to see if its an effective, alternative treatment for MS. The treatment, called venous angioplasty, stems from an Italian vascular surgeon's theory that MS may be linked to a vascular condition called called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. CCSVI is presumed to result from narrow veins in the neck and chest that drain blood from the brain. Interest in the theory and the procedure has exploded across the internet, but doctors say there isn't a lot of data to prove either. Albany Medical Center starting a study of 130 patients with the chronic disease. Dr. Krupa Pandey, assistant professor of neurology says, "at certain points they may have inflammation and that can cause problems that range form vision loss to difficult speaking, to balance and walking problems." The venous angioplasty will be preformed on the patients with narrowing veins. A catheter is inserted into the groin and snaked up through the heart to the specific vein. Then a dye is injected to find the narrowed spot. After an angioplasty, the dye shows the blood moving through that previously narrowed vein. Dr. Gary Siskin, professor and chair of radiology and the principle investigator of the study says many reported symptomatic releif after the procedure. The study seeks to enroll patients between the ages of 18 and 60 starting in October. To be considered eligible, patients must have a known diagnosis of MS and narrowing of the veins in the neck as found on an ultrasound. Patients will be randomly be selected to undergo the angioplasty under a double-blind study. After the procedure, the patients will be followed for 24 months. Patients and the neurologists will not know who received the treatment. To participate, those eligible should call 518-262-5356skype_highlighting +15182625356 end_of_the_skype_highlighting" class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common"> 518-262-5356 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. |
