Clinicians Report Evidence of Added Patient Benefits From Vasomedical's EECP Cardiovascular Disease Therapy
Could Positively Affect Blood Flow, Renal Function
WESTBURY, N.Y.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 3, 1998--Vasomedical Inc. (Nasdaq:VASO - news) Thursday announced that clinical studies by German cardiologists of the company's EECP(R) External Counterpulsation procedure for the non-invasive treatment of coronary artery disease showed evidence of significant physiological benefits beyond those previously reported.
Such benefits reportedly could possibly affect not only a patient's blood vessel development and blood flow, but also overall renal function.
According to results presented by Dr. Dierk Werner, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, a group of 13 angina patients demonstrated significant improvements both in myocardial blood flow and in exercise capability after EECP treatment, thus confirming data from studies conducted in the United States.
''In addition,'' as reported by Anthony Peacock, Vasomedical vice president of Clinical Affairs, ''nine patients receiving EECP therapy showed a measurable increase in blood levels of VEGF, a hormone known to stimulate blood vessel growth. The hormone data are the first to lend support to the theory that EECP therapy owes its long-term effectiveness to the stimulation of vascular growth factors.''
The studies also demonstrated an increase in coronary artery blood flow volume of as much as 42 percent in six patients receiving EECP therapy, Peacock reported. At the same time, healthy volunteers participating in the studies showed marked improvement in overall renal function: a more than 20 percent increase in blood flow to their kidneys, a 60 percent jump in urine output and a doubling of salt excretion.
''Of particular interest,'' Peacock said, ''is the fact that renal function enhancement was accompanied by a significant plasma level decrease of two powerful vasoconstrictive hormones -- endothelin and renin. The clinicians conducting the German study therefore believe that EECP therapy might be a promising treatment for renal failure as well as cardiovascular problems.''
He indicated that the newest data ''must be confirmed in further studies. However, we now have more evidence that our technology could produce effects that may be substantially beneficial in a broader variety of diseases.''
Vasomedical Inc. (www.vasomedical.com) is a medical technology company devoted to the development, manufacture and commercialization of innovative and cost-effective cardiovascular products and procedures. The company provides hospitals, clinics and private practices EECP equipment, treatment guidance and a staff training and maintenance program to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
Except for historical information contained in this news release, the matters discussed are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this release, words such as ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''estimate'', ''expect'' and ''intend'' and similar expressions, as they relate to the company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the company's management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of business and economic conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; products development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the company's SEC reports.
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