Massimo Filippi
I have chosen to address this topic because, from its first description, CCSVI has stimulated a wide array of discussion in the scientific community and a significant amount of publicity via lay media, and has created a lot of expectations in patients with MS.
Because the neuroimaging findings reviewed in my editorial do not support the CCSVI theory in MS, but rather point to a concomitant disturbance of the brain microcirculation in patients with MS, these findings vigorously discourage endovascular treatment of presumed vascular abnormalities in MS.
The feedback from the scientific community was very positive, because this editorial represented a step forward in indicating that this theory is completely unfounded and, therefore, should be abandoned for the sake of patients’ health.
Since the editorial was published, several other studies have been conducted confirming what is indicated above. I think there is now enough evidence against such a theory, and I am not going to pursue any type of research in this area.