Introduction: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) therapy is a potential treatment for refractory angina, which refers to persistent symptoms despite optimal treatment. However, the immobility, cost, and lack of individualized pressure control limit the accessibility and clinical implications of EECP. To address these limitations, a new Mobile, Motorized Enhanced Counterpulsation (MECP) device has been developed. Hypothesis: To investigate efficacy of MECP in improving in angina functional class and exercise tolerance in patients with refractory angina and to validate the consistency in outcomes observed with conventional EECP treatment. Methods: This prospective study enrolled patients with symptomatic refractory angina between September 2020 and December 2022 at two tertiary centers in Korea. Baseline and post-treatment assessments included measurements of angina scale, 6-minute walking test, cardiopulmonary exercise test, and central arterial pressure. Results: The study included 71 patients (70.4% male, median age 66 years). After the 10-hour MECP treatment session, 57.7% of patients showed improvement in angina scale based on Canadian Cardiovascular Society classification, with a significant distribution change from 76.8% to 49.3% in class II and from 21.7% to 5.7% in class III (p<0.001). Furthermore, patients demonstrated an increase of 20 meters in the 6-minute walk distance after MECP treatment (464 meters vs. 484 meters, p<0.001). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the baseline characteristics of patients based on their response to MECP. Conclusion : Our study highlights the substantial benefits of MECP in relieving symptoms for patients with refractory angina and suggests its potential for broader clinical applications which merits further investigation.

Introduction: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in heart transplant (HTx) recipients. However, clinical characteristics and predictors of PTLD in the real world have not been well studied. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical characteristics, predictors, and outcomes of PTLD, in 28,136 recipients of heart alone transplants between January 2000 and June 2015 from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Thoracic Organ Transplant Registry. Results Ten-year incidence of PTLD after successful discharge from HTx during 2000-2007 was 3.8%. The adjusted overall risk of mortality was significantly higher in patients diagnosed with PTLD within 3 years after HTx compared to those without PTLD (HR 2.22, 95% CI 1.86-2.65, p<0.001). Bimodal age peak of the PTLD incidence within the 3 years of HTx and mortality after the diagnosis of PTLD was noted. Both adjusted risk of PTLD incidence and mortality were lower in recent HTx; lower incidence and mortality in era of 2008-2015, compared to 2000-2007 (Incidence: HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57-0.98, p=0.038) (Mortality: HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.81-0.91, p<0.001). Age at transplant, male recipient, high risk Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) mismatch (donor positive and recipient negative for EBV) were independent risk factors, while primary maintenance therapy with cyclosporine (vs. tacrolimus) at initial discharge was a protective factor for PTLD within 3 years. Conclusions The incidence as well as mortality of PTLD has decreased in recent years of HTx, possibly with advances in changed pattern of immunosuppression according to patient profile. Clinical characteristics such as age, male gender, EBV status and rejection history are key factors for assessing the risk of PTLD, which can be detrimental in the course of post HTx care.