Landmark Article Supports Osteopathic Medicine? Setting the Record Straight
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Valerie L. Heemstra
To the Editor:
In the November 2015 issue of The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, Hoegerl1 praises the 2015 Nature article by Louveau et al2 for discovering functioning lymphatic vessels in the central nervous system. Hoegerl1 claims this study “has provided evidence for what osteopathic physicians have been doing clinically since the time of Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO.”
However, Louveau et al2 have simply added to evidence cited in the 38th edition of Grays Anatomy: “Although the evidence from tracer studies is scarce in man, there are anatomical pathways in the human central nervous system which correspond to the lymphatic drainage pathways of the brain identified in experimental animals.”3(p1202) Also, citing Szentistvanyi et al,4 “Physiological studies emphasize that the extracellular space of the brain is in continuity with the CSF [cerebral spinal fluid] such that substances entering the extracellular spaces of the brain may drain either into ventricular CSF or along the perivascular and, ultimately, lymphatic drainage pathways.”3(p1222)
Although the findings by Louveau et al2 are important, they should be properly positioned in basic anatomy rather than be considered a validation of osteopathic principles and practice.
References
1. HoegerlC. Landmark article supports osteopathic medicine [letter].J Am Osteopath Assoc.2015;115(11):646. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2015.134.10.7556/jaoa.2015.134Search in Google Scholar PubMed
2. LouveauA,SmirnovI,KeyesTJ, et al.Structural and functional features of central nervous system lymphatic vessels [published online June 1, 2015].Nature.2015;523(7560):337-341. doi:10.1038/nature14432.10.1038/nature14432Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
3. WilliamsPL. Gray's Anatomy. 38th ed. London, England: Churchill Livingstone; 1995:1202.Search in Google Scholar
4. SzentistvanyiI,PatlakCS,EllisRA,CserrHF. Drainage of interstitial fluid from different regions of rat brain.Am J Physiol.1984;246(6 pt 2):F835-F844.10.1152/ajprenal.1984.246.6.F835Search in Google Scholar PubMed
© 2016 American Osteopathic Association
Articles in the same Issue
- SURF
- The Catabolism of a Medical Student
- EDITORIAL
- Osteopathic Medical Education: Innovations in a Changing Environment
- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- Landmark Article Supports Osteopathic Medicine? Setting the Record Straight
- Response
- Effect of Table Trainer–to-Student Ratios on Outcome in Student Assessments of Cervical Muscle Energy Techniques
- Corrections
- Correction
- MEDICAL EDUCATION
- Osteopathic Medical Education and Social Accountability
- Effect of a Mandatory Third-Year Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Course on Student Attitudes
- Program Characteristics Influencing Allopathic Students’ Residency Selection
- Advising Needs of Osteopathic Medical Students Preparing for the Match
- Preparation Strategies of Osteopathic Medical Students for the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE
- Perceptions of US and Australian Medical Students and Instructors About Clinical Professional Attire: LAPEL Study
- APPENDIX
- Appendix 1: Osteopathic Graduate Medical Education, 2016
- Appendix 2: American Osteopathic Association Specialty Board Certification
- CLINICAL IMAGE
- Ileocecal Intussusception
Articles in the same Issue
- SURF
- The Catabolism of a Medical Student
- EDITORIAL
- Osteopathic Medical Education: Innovations in a Changing Environment
- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- Landmark Article Supports Osteopathic Medicine? Setting the Record Straight
- Response
- Effect of Table Trainer–to-Student Ratios on Outcome in Student Assessments of Cervical Muscle Energy Techniques
- Corrections
- Correction
- MEDICAL EDUCATION
- Osteopathic Medical Education and Social Accountability
- Effect of a Mandatory Third-Year Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Course on Student Attitudes
- Program Characteristics Influencing Allopathic Students’ Residency Selection
- Advising Needs of Osteopathic Medical Students Preparing for the Match
- Preparation Strategies of Osteopathic Medical Students for the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE
- Perceptions of US and Australian Medical Students and Instructors About Clinical Professional Attire: LAPEL Study
- APPENDIX
- Appendix 1: Osteopathic Graduate Medical Education, 2016
- Appendix 2: American Osteopathic Association Specialty Board Certification
- CLINICAL IMAGE
- Ileocecal Intussusception
