Feds urged to fund MS trial

People with multiple sclerosis, a cardiovascular surgeon and Liberal MPs called on the federal government Tuesday to immediately invest $10 million in research, diagnosis and treatment for the disease.

Clinical trials are important to assess the value of opening narrowed or blocked veins in people with MS, but the data can be collected quickly from people seeking the treatment around the world, cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Sandy McDonald from Barrie, Ont., told a news conference on Parliament Hill.

Science and time will show whether the vein blockages reoccur, but patients shouldn't be forced to wait to get the ballooning procedure in Canada, McDonald said, which he considers relatively inexpensive and low risk.

Some doctors have hypothesized that MS is caused by chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, a narrowing or blockage of the veins.

Steve Garvie, 53, of Barrie, told reporters he was unable to wash or feed himself and was living in government-paid housing before he received the procedure. Now he said he is able to walk and use his left hand again, and he's even stopped taking his MS medications, against McDonald's and his neurologist's medical advice.

Liberal Public Health Critic Kirsty Duncan called on the federal government to provide $10 million for research into MS and its potential cause, as well as emergency debate in the House of Commons on the issue of diagnosing and treating CCSVI.

Normally, doctors would take a picture of the vascular problem and treat it, but when it occurs in people with MS, they are discriminated against, Duncan said.

The funding would allow clinical trials to start immediately with clinical and research arms to track patients receiving the ballooning procedure in Canada and abroad.

Duncan and Liberal Health Critic Dr. Carolyn Bennett wrote a letter to Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq on May 6, asking for her support to research the procedure. They said Aglukkaq has yet to respond.

Duncan saidit would cost an estimated $5,000 and $6,000 for the scan andtreatment in a public hospital setting.The cost of approved MS drugtreatmentsrange from about $20,000 to $40,000 per year per patient, and symptom management drugs can cost up to $10,000 per year, the Liberals said.

The MS Society of Canada andMS patients across the country have also called for the $10 million in federalfunding.