Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

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Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO, Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, 3(69), p. 525-527, 2011

DOI: 10.1590/s0004-282x2011000400022

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The internet racing ahead of the scientific evidence: The case of "liberation treatment" for multiple sclerosis

Journal article published in 2011 by Yára Dadalti Fragoso ORCID
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Preprint: policy unknown
Question mark in circle
Postprint: policy unknown
Question mark in circle
Published version: policy unknown
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that typically affects young adults. A recent publication suggested that MS might originate from insufficient blood drainage in certain areas of the central nervous system. The condition was named chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). Other papers have not confirmed these findings and, therefore, the matter remains controversial. Nineteen months after the original publication on CCSVI and MS, another 22 papers have been published addressing the matter. No clinical trials have been carried out on the subject and there is no evidence-based indication to perform surgical vascular procedures in MS patients. However, over the same nineteen-month period, the internet discussion on the subject of CCSVI and MS has led to countless websites advertising treatment using vascular surgery for patients with MS all over the world. The treatment based on the CCSVI theory has appealingly been called "liberation treatment", thus making it difficult to explain to patients why a treatment that has been highly praised (on the internet) cannot be recommended based on partial medical results that await confirmation.