title: Successful treatment of symptomatic coronary endothelial dysfunction with enhanced external counterpulsation.
abstract: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a valuable therapeutic option for patients with coronary artery disease and refractory angina. Although the exact mechanisms by which this technique exerts favorable effects remain unclear, improvement in endothelial function is considered a potential mechanism contributing to the clinical benefit associated with EECP. We describe a young woman with severely symptomatic coronary endothelial dysfunction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease who experienced a dramatic and sustained reduction in symptoms in response to a standard 35-hour course of EECP.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Piero O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.forename: Suresh N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gadasalli
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lerman
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Barsness
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D015908:Counterpulsation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology