SIR Supports Research for Endovascular Treatments of Multiple Sclerosis

August 26, 2010—The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) has issued a position statement indicating its support for high-quality clinical research to determine the safety and effectiveness of interventional treatments of multiple sclerosis (MS). SIR's position statement is published in the September issue of the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (2010:10:1335-1337). The Canadian Interventional Radiology Association endorsed the SIR position statement.

SIR President James F. Benenati, MD, commented, “SIR would like to be actively involved in developing evidence-based therapies for the potential treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis. Completing high-quality studies—for example, on chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and interventional MS treatments—should be a research priority for investigators, funding agencies, and MS community advocates.”

According to SIR, MS is generally defined as an autoimmune disease that is currently treated with medicines that may slow the disease and help control the symptoms. The role of CCSVI in MS and its endovascular treatment, Dr. Benenati said, “could be transformative for patients and is being actively investigated. The idea that there may be a venous component to the etiology of some symptoms in patients with MS is a radical departure from current medical thinking."

Although the use of balloon angioplasty and stents cannot be endorsed yet as a routine clinical treatment for MS, Dr. Benenati stated, “SIR recognizes the challenge and the potential opportunity presented by promising early studies of an interventional approach to the treatment of MS.” He noted that SIR is moving rapidly to “catalyze” the development of needed studies by bringing together expert researchers in image-guided venous interventions, neurology, central nervous system imaging, MS outcomes assessment, and clinical trial methodology, he added.

SIR's position statement agrees with MS advocates, physicians, and other caregivers that the use of any treatment (anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, interventional, or other) in MS patients should be based on an individualized assessment of the patient's disease status, the patient's tolerance of previous therapies, the particular treatment's scientific plausibility, and the strength and methodological quality of its supporting clinical evidence.