The Effects of External Counter Pulsation Therapy on Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells

The Effects of External Counter Pulsation Therapy (ECPT) on the Number and Function of Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients With Angina Pectoris

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00272571

Enrollment

Registered

2006-01-06

Start date

2004-08-31

Completion date

2006-01-31

Last updated

2006-01-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Coronary Artery Disease

Keywords

ECPT, endothelial progenitor cells

Brief summary

The objectives of the study are to test the hypothesis that external counter pulsation therapy (ECPT) provides clinical benefit by improving the number and function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in peripheral blood of patients with angina pectoris.

Detailed description

ECPT is a non-invasive approach for increasing blood flow to the heart in patients with myocardial ischemia. ECPT produces beneficial effects in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. However, the exact mechanisms of ECPT action are not defined yet. Evidence has now accumulated that bone marrow-derived cells with angiogenic capability, termed EPCs, circulate in the blood of adults. EPCs possess the ability to home to sites of ischemia and contribute to neoangiogenesis. We prospectively study CAD patients \[Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina class II-IV\], before and after ECPT , and compare them with age- and sex-matched controls. Peripheral blood CD34+ cells, EPCs (CD34/VEGFR2+ cells), EPC colony forming units (CFUs) and brachial artery endothelial function is assessed prior to and after ECPT. Percent improvement in endothelium-dependent brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (%FMD) is assessed using high-resolution ultrasound.

Interventions

PROCEDUREExternal counter pulsation therapy

Study design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

40 Years to 90 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* coronary artery disease * CCS angina class II-IV

Exclusion criteria

* aortic regurgitation * acute myocardial infarction \<3 months * systemic hypertension \>180/110 mm * atrial fibrillation * deep vein thrombosis * phlebitis and hemorrhagic diathesis * pregnancy * abdominal aortic aneurism * metastatic tumor

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood (before and one week after treatment)	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Brachial artery endothelial function (before and one week after treatment)	—
CCS angina class (before and one week after treatment)	—

Countries

Israel

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026