Some Multiple Sclerosis patients are speaking out against an information sheet released by Alberta Services that questions the merit of Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) – a controversial treatment for the debilitating disease.
The document challenges the validity of the research done by an Italian doctor who found blocked veins in several MS patients could be reversed with a procedure similar to balloon angioplasty.
Some of the highlights of the four-page report are as follows: it questions the relationship between MS and CCSVI; it argues most neurologists doubt MS is caused by sluggish or blocked veins; it warns that, despite recent reports, venous angioplasty is a rare procedure that weakens veins and sees high rates of failure; and it suggests that placebo effect could be the reason some patients say the CCSVI worked for them.
Nina Khehra, who was diagnosed with MS 25 years ago, finds the document offensive.
"[CCSVI] gave me the hope that good - there is something else out there because the medication I'm on hasn't done a thing for me," she said.
"I think they are fear-mongering more than anything else in order not to provide the treatment here. It's really shameful of them."
But the MS Society of Canada says it's important for people to hear both sides of the debate.
"It reminds people that it is a potentially dangerous procedure that they're doing," said Darrel Gregory with the MS Society of Alberta.
"You mess around with your jugular veins and if something goes wrong you could be in serious trouble."
Representatives from Alberta Health Services say the information sheet, which is the opinion of neurologists working under its board, helps explain why the province isn't rushing into bringing the treatment here.
"I think the Alberta government has also made it very clear that we need a considerable body of evidence before we will consider funding any treatment, including the liberation treatment" said John Tuckwell.
To see the information sheet in its entirety, click here.
With Files from CTV's Dez Melenka
