The following material is an interpretation of current developments in medical research. If the reader is an authority in their field and finds any incorrect factual information we would be more than happy to make appropriate corrections. In such a case please send an email to adolfo . gianni @ gmail . com. Please note that at this point in time what is now called "MS" may be a disease which is initiated in a multiple of ways as indicated by the results of 2009 research at the MSRA website here.

What is CCSVI?

An Australian Hospital in association with the MSRA is currently conducting a small study to verify the presence and extent of cerebral and azygous vein narrowing in a small number of West Australian MS patients. So far only about 20 Aussie PwMS have been tested in Perth and results so far have been reported as "inconclusive" as of 17th December 2009.

Although the Australian medical staff and technicians are amongst some of the best in the world, any CCSVI diagnostic imaging difficulties may be related to the availability of appropriate additional equipment (e.g.low frequency probe for transcranial imaging), diagnostic protocol interpretation, sufficient training in and practice of the Ultrasound-Colour Doppler technique developed by the Zamboni team at Ferrara.

During 2010 there may be a more extensive research project proceeding depending on the quality and validity of the initial data gathered in this W.A. pilot study. A larger number of PwMS will be recruited from W.A. only. There is no current prospect of any Australia wide recruitment at this stage. The study is being co-ordinated by Prof. Bill Carroll at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.