Tolerability of enhanced external counter pulsation to improve circulation in patients with vascular disease

ISRCTN ISRCTN15405726
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15405726
Secondary identifying numbers Version 1.5 06/08/2019
Submission date
13/11/2019
Registration date
09/12/2019
Last edited
09/12/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Circulatory System
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Coronary heart disease is the term that describes what happens when the heart's blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries. Numerous clinical studies have shown that external counterpulsation (EPT) relieves symptoms of coronary heart disease (angina pectoris and dyspnea) and reduces the incidence of cardiovascular events.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 years or older suffering from systemic atherosclerosis

What does the study involve?
In the lying position, three pairs of pneumatic cuffs are wrapped around the patient’s hip, thighs and lower leg with different pressure settings. Patients are treated with high-pressure counterpulsation for one hour a day for five days, and with low-pressure counterpulsation for one hour a day for five days

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Patients benefit from the study therapy in particular by improvement of endothelial function and vascular regeneration. Possible risks are provided by cuff pressure on tissue (tissue damage) or discomfort

Where is the study run from?
Brandenburg Medical School (MHB)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2019 to March 2020

Who is funding the study?
Brandenburg Medical School (MHB)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Philipp Hillmeister
p.hillmeister@klinikum-brandenburg.de

Contact information

Dr Philipp Hillmeister
Public

Brandenburg Medical School
Clinic Brandenburg
Department for Angiology
Brandenburg an der Havel
14770
Germany

Phone +49 3381411556
Email p.hillmeister@klinikum-brandenburg.de

Study information

Study designInterventional randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised cross over trial
Study setting(s)GP practice
Study typeDiagnostic
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleTolerability of external pulsation therapy by patients with existing symptomatic arterial vascular disease and its effect on microcirculation, kidney function and skeletal muscles at different therapeutic pressure levels
Study acronymEPT-Comfort
Study hypothesisThe aim of the study is to test how tolerable external pulsation therapy (EPT) is for patients with systemic atherosclerosis (CHD and manifest PAOD), and whether as a result of EPT any measurable change occurs to the microcirculation, as well as whether this effect is dependent on the pressure level.
In addition, the aim is to test whether the conventional treatment (see above) with high-pressure EPT is comparable with low-pressure L-EPT treatment.
A further aim is to clarify whether any possible influence occurs only for a short term or for a long term, and whether it activates the regeneration capacity of the vessels by increasing the shear stress in the leg arteries, and stimulates peripheral arteriogenesis to compensate for the PAOD.
Ethics approval(s)Approved 23/09/2019, Ethics Committee Schleswig-Holstein, Germany - Ethikkommission bei der Ärztekammer Schleswig-Holstein, Deutschland (Ethikkommission II, Bismarkstraße 8-12, 23795 Bad Segeberg, Germany; +49 4551 803432; anne.hostmann@aeksh.de), ref: 063/19 II
ConditionCoronary heart disease (CHD), sable angina pectoris with systemic atherosclerosis,
constrictions and occlusions of the arterial vessels throughout the body, and therefore also peripheral
arterial occlusion disorder (PAOD), Fontaine stage II.
InterventionHere we test the effect of low pressure external pulsation therapy (100 - 160 mmHg) in comparision to high pressure external pulsation therapy (250 - 280 mmHg) on 20 patients suffering from systemic atheroslerosis, coronary heart diseases and peripheral artery disease (Stadium II). In a randomized cross over trial patients are treated with high pressure counterpulsation for one hour a day for five days, and with low pressure counterpulsation each day for five days. Quality of life, microcirculation, hemolysis, myolysis, and kidney function parameters are analysed in the following. Both methods (high and low pressure pulsation therapy) are tested for compatibility, safety, and qualitiy of life.

Medicinal product (Renew, NCP-5):
External leg cuffs with ECG-controlled variable compressed air compression equipment (principle of external pulsation therapy).
Two therapeutic sequences (phases):
1. Low-pressure external pulsation therapy (EPT) with limited therapeutic pressure (corresponding to average arterial pressure) for 60 min on 5 successive days. n = 20
2. High-pressure EPT (EECP = enhanced EPT) with conventional therapeutic pressure (250–280 mmHg) for 60 min on 5 successive days. n = 20

Progression:
1. Visit 1 - Recruitment
2. Visit 2 - Baseline Analysis
3. Randomization (using an online randomization tool)
4. Start either high-pressure EECP or low-pressure EPT. Therapy 1. Total duration therapy: 5 days (one week) for 1h each day
5. 7 days break
6. Visit 3: Laboratory and Questionaire
7. Therapy 2: Start either low-pressure EPT or high-pressure EECP (cross-over design. Start with the other possible therapy): total duration therapy: 5 days (one week) for 1h each day
8. 3 days break
9. Visit 4: Laboratory and Questionaire
10. End of study
Intervention typeDevice
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Renew, NCP-5
Primary outcome measureQuality of Life measured using German IGZ Quality of Life Standard Questionnaire at baseline (visit 2), visit 3, and visit 4
Secondary outcome measuresMeasured at Visit 2 (baseline), 3rd and 5th days in the first therapy phase of the study, 1st 3rd and 5th day of the second therapy phase and Visit 4 (3 days post last intervention).
1. O2C measurement under external counterpulsation therapy treatment measured using LEA Medizintechnik Giesen (Units and % oxygen)
2. Changes to perfusion of tissue (blood flow verlocity, blood filling of micro vessels, capillary sinus oxygen saturation)
3. Serum:
3.1. Creatinine (mg/dl) using the enzymatic method
3.2. Urea (mg/dl) using photometry
3.3. LDH (U/I) using photometry
3.4. Myoglobin (µg/l) using Sandwich Immunoassay
3.5. Creatine Kinase (g/g) using the enzymatic method
3.6. Potassium(mmol/l) using ion-selective electrode (ISE)
3.7. Lactate (mmol/l) using photometry
4. Urine: sediment (mg/dl), protein (g/g), protein/creatinine ratio measured using the laboratory standard of City Clinic Husum, Germany or Dr. Limbach Laboratory Heidelberg, Germany, and the Clinic of Kiel, Germany
Overall study start date01/04/2019
Overall study end date31/03/2020

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants20
Participant inclusion criteria1. Age ≥ 18 years
2. Generalised atherosclerosis with at least one diseased vessel section
3. Coronary heart disease (CHD), stable angina pectoris with systemic atherosclerosis = PAOD Fontaine stages II–IVa
4. Already treated with ASA + statin therapy for at least 3 months
Participant exclusion criteria1. Abdominal aortic aneurysm > 4.5 cm
2. Cardiac arrhythmias or atrial fibrillation
3. Acute deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs or vein thrombosis <3 months
4. Cardiac insufficiency NYHA III + IV
5. LVEF <20 per cent
6. Dementia or severe cognitive function disturbances with inability to understand the meaning and context of the clinical study
7. Spastic paralyses, hemiplegia or any other neurological-orthopaedic disorder that makes adequate treadmill measurements impossible
8. Medium severe aortic valve insufficiency > II° + mitral valve insufficiency ≥ III°
9. Uncontrolled hypertension > 180/100 mmHg
10. FEV1 <1.5 L
11. Abnormal laboratory parameters at visit 1:
11.1. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <30 ml/min/1.73 m2
11.2. Haemoglobin <10 g/dl
11.3. Serum liver enzymes (ASAT, ALAT, GGT) > 3x normal value
12. Severe drug addiction, excepting stable nicotine abuse in the past six months
13. Simultaneous participation in another clinical study, excepting non-interventional studies
14. PAOD in stages 1 and IVb
Recruitment start date01/10/2019
Recruitment end date01/01/2020

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Germany

Study participating centre

Interdisziplinäres Gefäßzentrum Nord (Interdisciplinary Vascular Center)
Erichsenweg 16
Husum
25813
Germany

Sponsor information

Interdisziplinäre Gefäßzentrum Nord
Hospital/treatment centre

Erichsenweg 16
Husum
25813
Germany

Phone +49 4841 6601520
Email christian.klaproth@klinikum-nf.de
Website http://www.praxis-fuer-gefaessmedizin.de/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02rppq041

Funders

Funder type

Government

Brandenburg Medical School (MHB)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/07/2020
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPublication in a peer-reviewed Journal such as VASA or Acta Physiologica.
IPD sharing planThe current data sharing plans for this study are unknown and will be available at a later date.

Editorial Notes

09/12/2019: Internal review.
21/11/2019: Trial’s existence confirmed by Ethics Committee Schleswig-Holstein, Germany