Findings cast doubt on blocked vein theory, they say
Scientists have discovered 29 genetic variations that are linked to multiple sclerosis, and many of them are related to the immune system, suggesting that MS is mainly an autoimmune disease, CTV reports. The largest study of its kind, it looked at almost 10,000 MS patients, and found that many of the newly discovered genetic variations are related to the development of the immune system’s T-cells, which protect against infections. This seems to confirm long-held beliefs that changes in the immune system trigger MS, in contrast to a controversial theory from Italian vascular surgeon Dr. Paolo Zamboni, who believes it’s related to blocked neck veins. Zamboni has promoted a vascular procedure to open blocked veins, which hundreds of Canadians have obtained at clinics outside the country.