Some multiple sclerosis (MS) patients reported an improvement after percutaneous 
transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency 
(CCSVI), despite the lack of correspondence with objective outcome scores. The 
objective was to assess neurologic and quality of life scores before and after 
PTA for CCSVI in an observational study after a self-decided approach. 44 
consecutive MS patients (21/23 M/F; median age 43 years, SD 9.8) who underwent 
PTA were evaluated before endovascular treatment for CCSVI and after 12 months. 
Neurologic outcome was assessed with EDSS, the annualized relapse rate (ARR) and 
frequency of new lesions at MRI after PTA. Quality of life was evaluated through 
the MSQoL-54 questionnaire. No modification in the ARR (p = 0.829), worsening of 
disability status (p = 0.002) and new lesions at MRI in 29.6 % of patients were 
found, in contrast to an improvement both in physical and mental domains of 
MSQoL-54 (p = 0.003). Multiple logistic regression showed EDSS score before PTA 
to be predictor of an increase of >10 points in MSQoL-54 mental domain (OR 0.52, 
95 % CI, 0.31-0.89, p = 0.018). Spontaneously performed approach to CCSVI does 
not improve clinical and MRI parameters, despite frequent subjective perception 
of quality of life improvement.