Enhanced external counter pulsation (EECP) for restless legs syndrome (RLS): preliminary negative results in a parallel double-blind study.

摘要

In our previous article, 'Enhanced external counter pulsation (EECP) as a novel treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS)', we showed that EECP improved RLS symptoms significantly in our open-label study and could be considered as adjunct treatment for patients with RLS . EECP is used in patients with angina refractory to medical therapy and is thought to work by increasing collateral circulation. EECP involves inflation and deflation of three sets of compressive cuffs wrapped around the patient's calves, lower thighs and upper thighs. During diastole the cuffs inflate sequentially from the calves to the upper thighs and buttocks to compress the vascular beds of the legs, increasing venous return to the heart and increasing diastolic pressure and coronary perfusion pressure .