Enhanced external counterpulsation is an effective treatment for Syndrome X

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) was used to treat 30 patients with refractory angina due to cardiac Syndrome X, with an initial improvement in CCS angina class (3.57 to 1.43; p<0.001) and regional ischemia in all treated patients. At a mean of 11.9 months follow-up, 87% of patients had sustained improvement in angina and were without MACE. EECP, by improving endothelial function, may be an effective and durable treatment for this often difficult to treat problem. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.