Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of Recruited Patients and Their Disease According to Treatment Group.
| Characteristic | No. (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| PTA (n = 76) | Sham (n = 39) | |
| Female | 45 (59) | 29 (74) |
| Age, mean (SD), y | 40.0 (10.3) | 37.5 (10.6) |
| EDSS score | ||
| 2 or 2.5 | 50 (66) | 24 (62) |
| 3 or 3.5 | 18 (24) | 11 (28) |
| 4 or 4.5 | 8 (11) | 2 (5) |
| 5 or 5.5 | 0 | 2 (5) |
| Median (interquartile range) | 2.5 (2.0-3.0) | 2.5 (2.0-3.5) |
| Mean (SD) | 2.6 (0.7) | 2.7 (0.9) |
| Years since MS diagnosis, median (interquartile range) | 4.3 (2.8-8.4) | 6.1 (3.7-9.0) |
| Relapses in previous 2 years, No. | ||
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 44 (58) | 26 (67) |
| 2 | 24 (32) | 4 (10) |
| ≥3 | 8 (11) | 9 (23) |
| Median (interquartile range) | 1.0 (1.0-2.0) | 1.0 (1.0-2.0) |
| Mean (SD) | 1.7 (1.2) | 1.8 (1.4) |
| Intraluminal obstacle at ECD in at least 1 IJV | ||
| Yes | 74 (97) | 37 (95) |
| No | 2 (3) | 2 (5) |
| Bidirectional and/or absent flow at ECD in at least 1 IJV, in 2 positions | ||
| Yes | 70 (92) | 38 (97) |
| No | 6 (8) | 1 (3) |
| T1 gadolinium-enhancing lesions, No. | ||
| Median (range) | 0 (0-8) | 0 (0-3) |
| Mean (SD) | 0.49 (1.2) | 0.23 (0.58) |
| Immunomodulatory therapy | ||
| Yes | 31 (41) | 18 (46) |
| No | 45 (59) | 21 (54) |
Abbreviations: ECD, color Doppler ultrasonography; EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale; IJV, internal jugular vein; MS, multiple sclerosis; PTA, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.