Prevalence of extracranial venous abnormalities: results from a sample of 586 multiple sclerosis patients

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in an unselected cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. A total of 586 patients with clinically defined MS underwent catheter venography of the internal jugular veins, brachiocephalic veins and azygos vein. The following findings were regarded as pathologic: no outflow, slowed outflow, reversal of flow direction, prestenotic dilation accompanied by impaired outflow, outflow through collaterals, intraluminal structures obstructing the vein, hypoplasia, agenesia or significant narrowing of the vein. Venous abnormalities were found in 563 patients (96.1%). Lesions in one vein were found in 43.5%, in two veins in 49.5%, and in three veins in 3.1% of patients. Venous pathologies in the right internal jugular vein were found in 64.0% of patients, in the left internal jugular vein in 81.7%, in the left brachiocephalic vein in 1.0%, and in the azygos vein in 4.9%. Venous pathologies were found to be highly associated with MS, yet the clinical relevance of this phenomenon remains to be establishe

Magnetic resonance venography of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in the patients with associated multiple sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease with not well understood etiology. Recently, a possible association of MS with compromised venous outflow from the brain and spinal cord has been studied (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency – CCSVI). Angioplasties of internal jugular veins (IJV) and azygous vein (AV) have given promising results, with improvements in patients' clinical status. Material/Methods: 830 patients with clinically defined MS were scanned from the level of sigmoid sinuses to the junction with brachiocephalic veins, as well as at the level of AV. T2-weighted, 2D TOF and FIESTA sequences were used. Results: The examination revealed a slower blood flow in IJVs, in 98% of patients: on the right side – in 6%, on the left side – in 15%, on both sides with right-side predominance – in 22%, on both sides with left-side predominance – in 34%, bilaterally with no side predominance – in 19%. In 2%, there was a slower blood flow in IJVs, vertebral veins and subclavian veins and also in the left brachiocephalic vein. Moreover, in 5% of patients there was a decreased blood flow in the azygous vein. Conclusions: Abnormal flow pattern in IJVs is more common on the left side. Less often it can be found in azygous vein and in brachiocephalic veins. Further research is needed to investigate the significance of CCSVI in MS patients. The protocol we described can be used for most of modern magnetic resonance units