BNAC review: Venous stasis and EBV, viruses and bacteria

August 24, 2011 at 9:19pm

It is quite possible that venous stasis, or slowed cerebral drainage, could be responsible for the number of viruses (such as EBV and HHV) and bacteria (such as Cpn and Lyme) that have been associated with MS-by allowing these infectious agents to pass through the blood brain barrier.  Here is the Buffalo review on this topic:

The association between EBV infection and CCSVI has not yet been explored; however, it could be hypothesized that venous stasis in the superior saggital sinus due to extracranial outflow impairment could affect the drainage of bridging veins that pass through the subarachnoid space (near the meninges and EBV-infected B-cell follicles) and contribute to EBV activation. The venous stasis hypothesis in the SSS may contribute to understanding why so many different viruses and bacteria [3,111] have been linked to increased MS susceptibility risk over the last 50 years.

http://www.expert-reviews.com/doi/abs/10.1586/ern.11.117

The blood brain barrier is supposed to keep viruses and bacteria out of the central nervous system.  Venous stasis, or slowed blood flow, would explain why so many infectious cells are passing into the brain and spine in MS.  It just makes sense!   More studies ahead.

Joan

Research from the 1970s on spinal venous hypertension and myelopathies

June 3, 2011 at 10:09pm

Thanks to  Mylène Therrien for the following info on research from the 1970s on myelopathy of the spine due to venous hypertension and malformations in the veins surrounding the spine.  The 80 patients tested and treated in these studies had paraplegia and injury of the spine due to venous malformations.  

They were treated for venous stenosis in the 1970s.  Dr. Zamboni has referenced this research in his publications, but I hadn't seen these abstracts or understood the history.

Here are the abstracts and links I found from the info given in Mylene's posting:

Acta Radiol Suppl. 1976;347:395-401.

[Intraspinal venous hypertension due to multiple anomalies in the caval system. A major cause of myelopathies].

[Article in French]

Aboulker J, Aubin ML, Leriche H, Guiraudon G, Ancri D, Metzger J.

Abstract

Increased venous intraspinal pressure is described as a venous system disease, resulting in numerous unexplained paraplegias and tetraplegias. The chronic venous stasis in the intraspinal plexuses, into which the circulation of the spinal cord is drained, is due to the association of multiple abnormalities (stenoses, compressions, thromboses) on the major pathways of the caval and azygos system. The abnormalities, most of which are not known, are demonstrated by a special procedure, the cavo-spinal phlebography, and some of them are subjected to surgery.

PMID:

 207125 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/207125

 Acta Radiol Suppl. 1976;347:415-7.

[Cavo-spinal phlebography in myelopathies. Stenoses of internal jugular and azygos veins, venous compressions and thromboses].

[Article in French]

Leriche H, Aubin ML, Aboulker J.

Abstract

Increased intraspinal venous pressure, resulting according to ABOULKER in numerous spastic paraplegias and quadriplegias is due to multiple venous abnormalities demonstrated by cavo-spinal phlebography. The most frequent are stenoses of the internal jugular veins, the left renal, the left iliac veins, the azygos veins and compressions of the innominate venous trunks. These abnormalities cause a permanent stasis in the intraspinal plexuses through excessive supply or insufficient drainage. Out of 80 patients, 60 per cent had at least 2 abnormalities, 38 per cent at least 3 abnormalities.

PMID:

 207127 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/207127