AUTHOR=Sharma Vijay K. , Gopinathan Anil , Tan Benjamin Y. Q. , Loh Poay Huan , Hung Jennifer , Tang David , Chua Christopher , Chan Amanda C. Y. , Ong Jonathan J. Y. , Chin Amanda , Jing Mingxue , Goh Yihui , Sunny Sibi , Keat Chin Howe , Ka Zhang , Pandya Shivani , Wong Lily Y. H. , Chen Jin Tao , Yeo Leonard L. L. , Chan Bernard P. L. , Teoh Hock Luen , Sinha Arvind K. TITLE=Enhanced external counter pulsation therapy in patients with symptomatic and severe intracranial steno-occlusive disease: a randomized clinical trial protocol JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1177500 DOI=10.3389/fneur.2023.1177500 ISSN=1664-2295 ABSTRACT=

Intracranial stenosis is prevalent among Asians and constitutes a common cause of cerebral ischemia. While the best medical therapy carries stroke recurrence rates in excess of 10% per year, trials with intracranial stenting have been associated with unacceptable peri-procedural ischemic events. Cerebral ischemic events are strongly related to the severity of intracranial stenosis, which is high in patients with severe intracranial stenosis with poor vasodilatory reserve. Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP) therapy is known to improve myocardial perfusion by facilitating the development of collateral blood vessels in the heart. In this randomized clinical trial, we evaluate whether EECP therapy may be useful in patients with severe stenosis of intracranial internal carotid (ICA) or middle cerebral artery (MCA). The review of literature, methods of evaluation, status of currently used therapeutic approaches, and trial protocol have been presented.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03921827.