Efficacy of Enhanced External Counterpulsation Combined with Nitroglycerin in the Treatment of Refractory Angina Pectoris

WANG Yunbao; ZHAO Dongsheng; ZHANG Hui; ZHANG Shuxia; FAN Meng

doi:10.3639/i.issn.2095-3097.2025.01.029

Abstract：Objective To study the efficacy of enhanced external counterpulsation(EECP)combined with nitroglycerin in the treatment of refractory angina(RA).Methods A total of 98 RA patients treated in the Department of Cardiology of Hengshui Second People's Hospital from October 2022 to October 2023 were selected.They were randomly divided into the drug group and combination group using the random number table method,with 49 cases in each group.Conventional treatment plus nitroglycerin was performed in both groups.Two cycles of EECP for 28 days were additionally given to patients in the combination group.The efficacy,vascular endothelial cell function,the Seattle Angina Questionnaire(SAQ)score,and inflammatory factor levels were compared between the two groups.Results The total effective rate in the combination group was significantly higher than that of the drug group(93.88%[46/49]vs.79.59%[39/49],P<0.05).After the treatment,the levels of endothelial microparticles(EPMs)and von Willebrand factor(vWF)in both groups were significantly lower than those before the treatment(P<0.05),and they were significantly lower in the combination group than the drug group(P<0.05).The SAQ score after the treatment was significantly elevated in both groups than the pre-treatment value(P<0.05),which was significantly higher in the combination group than the drug group(P<0.05).The tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α)and interleukin 6(IL-6)after the treatment were significantly reduced in both groups than the pre-treatment value(P<0.05),which were significantly lower in the combination group than the drug group(P<0.05).Conclusion EECP combined with nitroglycerin in the treatment of RA can improve the efficacy,and vascular endothelial cell function,and inhibit the inflammatory response of coronary plaques.