New Study Shows EECP Therapy as a Potential First Line Treatment for Patients Suffering from Refractory Angina
Thursday January 8, 4:34 pm ET
WESTBURY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2004--Vasomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq SmallCap: VASO - News) announced today that a study published in the December issue of Cardiology (Cardiology 2003;100:129-135) showed evidence of clinical safety and effectiveness in using EECP® external counterpulsation as a first line treatment for patients suffering from angina refractory to medical therapy.
The study compared two populations of patients from the International EECP Patient Registry (IEPR) maintained at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. The primary group of patients had no previous invasive revascularizations but were considered suitable for (coronary artery bypass graft) CABG surgery or angioplasty. Results after a course of EECP therapy in this patient group were compared with refractory angina patients not suitable for further invasive procedures. The results showed both groups benefited from EECP immediately following the therapy, with approximately 75 percent of the patients improving their angina status, with reduced angina episodes and lowered use of nitroglycerin. The patients that were still candidates for invasive procedures were found to be substantially more likely to maintain or further improve their angina status six months following the treatment with significantly fewer hospitalizations and heart attacks. These results suggest EECP should be considered as a primary revascularization intervention after medical therapy proves to be unsuccessful.
"Many of the patients I've treated with EECP have had multiple invasive procedures to relieve their chronic angina symptoms. EECP is such a safe and effective noninvasive therapy that it makes sense to treat them with EECP prior to considering additional invasive procedures," stated C.P. Fitzgerald, MD, senior author of the study.
"It's exciting to see evidence suggesting what we have believed about the benefits of EECP therapy all along," stated Gregory D. Cash, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vasomedical. "With the safety profile and clinical effectiveness of EECP, we've always thought patients who were treated invasively would benefit just as much as those who were not candidates for invasive revascularization procedures. Although current healthcare policies usually limit reimbursement for patients who are not candidates for invasive procedures, we are hopeful this evidence will lead to broader use of EECP therapy and eventual expansion of indications being reimbursed by Medicare and other payers."
About EECP - Enhanced External Counterpulsation
Vasomedical's advanced, state-of-the-art EECP external counterpulsation system is comprised of an air compressor, a computer console, a set of cuffs and a treatment table. To receive treatment, patients lie down on the table and have their calves and lower and upper thighs wrapped in the cuffs. The system, which is synchronized to the individual patient's cardiac cycle, inflates the cuffs with air to create external pressure when the heart is resting (diastole) and deflates the cuffs just before the heart beats (systole). The system's action, which pulses counter to the heart's beating, increases blood flow to the heart muscle, decreases the heart's workload and creates a greater oxygen supply for the heart muscle while lowering the heart's need for oxygen.
Treatment is typically given in 35 one-hour-sessions over seven weeks; the benefits have been shown to persist for years. Researchers hypothesize that EECP may work by promoting the release of beneficial growth factors, improving the neurohormonal milieu within blood vessels, and by encouraging the proliferation of collateral blood vessels. Vasomedical's EECP systems are the only counterpulsation devices shown in clinical studies published in major peer-reviewed journals to provide improvements in exercise capacity, peak oxygen consumption and quality of life.
About Vasomedical
Vasomedical, Inc. is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing, marketing and supporting EECP external counterpulsation systems based on the Company's proprietary technology. EECP is a noninvasive, outpatient therapy for the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system, currently indicated for use in cases of angina, cardiogenic shock, acute myocardial infarction and, most recently, congestive heart failure. The therapy serves to increase circulation in areas of the heart with less than adequate blood supply and may restore systemic vascular function. The Company provides hospitals, clinics and private practices with EECP equipment, treatment guidance and a staff training and maintenance program designed to provide optimal patient outcomes. EECP is a registered trademark for Vasomedical's enhanced external counterpulsation system. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.vasomedical.com. |
