Enhanced external counterpulsation ameliorates endothelial dysfunction and elevates exercise tolerance in patients with coronary artery disease.

Purpose: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a new non-drug treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the long-term effect of EECP on endothelial dysfunction and exercise tolerance, and the relationship between the changes in the endothelial dysfunction and exercise tolerance in the patients with coronary heart disease are still unclear.

Methods: A total of 240 patients with CAD were randomly divided into EECP group ( = 120) and control group ( = 120). All patients received routine treatment of CAD as the basic therapy. Patients in the EECP group received 35 1-h daily sessions of EECP during 7 consecutive weeks while the control group received the same treatment course, but the cuff inflation pressure was 0-10 mmHg. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI), and inner diameter (ID) of the right carotid artery were examined using a Color Doppler Ultrasound and used to calculate the fluid shear stress (FSS). Serum levels of human vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR), and human angiotensin 2 (Ang) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Exercise load time, maximal oxygen uptake (VO ), metabolic equivalent (METs), anaerobic threshold (AT), peak oxygen pulse (VO/HR) were assessed using cardiopulmonary exercise tests.

Results: After 1 year follow-up, the EDV, PSV, ID, and FSS were significantly increased in the EECP group ( < 0.05 and 0.01, respectively), whereas there were no significant changes in these parameters in the control group. The serum levels of VEGF and VEGFR were elevated in the EECP and control groups (all < 0.05). However, the changes in VEGF and VEGFR were significantly higher in the EECP group than in the control group ( < 0.01). The serum level of Ang was decreased in the EECP group ( < 0.05) and no obvious changes in the control group. As for exercise tolerance of patients, there were significant increases in the exercise load time, VO2, VO/HR, AT and METs in the EECP group (all < 0.05) and VO and METs in the control group (all < 0.05). Correlation analyses showed a significant and positive correlations of VEGF and VEGFR levels with the changes in FSS (all < 0.001). The correlations were still remained even after adjustment for confounders (all < 0.001). Linear regression displays the age, the medication of ACEI (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) or ARB (angiotensin receptor blockers), the diabetes and the changes in VEGF and VEGFR were positively and independently associated with the changes in METs after adjustment for confounders (all < 0.05).

Conclusion: The data of our study suggested that EECP is a useful therapeutic measurement for amelioration of endothelial dysfunction and long-term elevation of exercise tolerance for patients with coronary heart disease.

Clinical Trial Registration: [http://www.chictr.org.cn/], identifier [ChiCTR1800020102].