Between 25,000 and 75,000 new cases of angina refractory to maximal medical therapy and standard coronary revascularization procedures are diagnosed each year. In addition, heart failure also places an enormous burden on the U.S. health care system, with an estimated economic impact ranging from $20 billion to more than $50 billion per year. The technique of counterpulsation, studied for almost...

BACKGROUND Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), a noninvasive treatment for patients with angina pectoris, provides long-term benefits of decreased anginal frequency and improved exercise tolerance. Previous studies have suggested that shear stress may result in angiogenesis and alter endothelial hemostatic factor release. Whether EECP therapy effects an alteration in endothelial cell pro...

BACKGROUND Advanced liver cirrhosis is characterized by cardiovascular changes, such as low arterial blood pressure, peripheral vasodilation and renal vasoconstriction. As a consequence, renal hypoperfusion, impaired diuresis and natriuresis and eventual hepatorenal syndrome may ensue. Previous studies using head-out water immersion to increase central blood volume have demonstrated the functio...

BACKGROUND Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) enhances coronary perfusion and reduces left ventricular afterload. However, the role of EECP on renal function in cardiac patients is unknown. Our aim was to assess renal function determined by serum cystatin C in cardiac patients before and after EECP treatment. METHODS A prospective observational longitudinal study was conducted in order...

BACKGROUND Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive device that uses three pairs of sequentially inflated pneumatic cuffs applied to the lower extremities and synchronized with the heart beat to provide diastolic augmentation, increase coronary blood pressure and flow, venous return and cardiac output, and decrease afterload. HYPOTHESIS This study examines the safety and eff...

BACKGROUND In coronary artery disease patients, enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) improves peripheral arterial function and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT). We sought to evaluate the effects of EECP on outcomes of arterial function, glucose tolerance, and skeletal muscle morphology in subjects with AGT...