Cardiology

MTS Spark Waves® – a Novel Therapy for Coronary Heart Diseases (CHD)

Epidemiology

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of deaths and disability-adjusted life years globally. Coronary artery disease (CAD) -also called ischemic heart disease (IHD)- is the most prevalent CVD which affected 110 million people and resulted in 8.9 million deaths in 2015. It makes up 15.6 % of all deaths, making it the most common cause of death globally. 1,2

Definition and Pathophysiology:

IHC is characterised by an impaired blood -and therefore oxygen and nutrient- supply to the heart (= myocardial ischemia). The most common cause of this impairment is vascular injury due to cholesterol plaques in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis. Affected persons experience a variety of symptoms like chest pain (angina pectoris, most common symptom), heaviness, tightness, burning, pain in the arms or shoulders, shortness of breath or sweating. Atherosclerotic plaque rupture with thrombosis can lead to complete restriction of blood flow with subsequent tissue necrosis and is the pathologic mechanism responsible for acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) and sudden coronary death (SCD). The main risk factors for development of CAD are hypertension, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus (or elevated glucose levels), elevated cholesterol levels, lack of exercise, being overweight and emotional stress. 3,4

 

 

 
Fig. 1: Schematic of the life history of an atheroma. (Figure and caption taken from 14)
 

Diagnosis and Management

Common tests to be performed for diagnostic purposes include electrocardiogramm, echocardiogramm, cardiac stress testing, coronary computed tomographic angiography and coronary angiogramm.

Self-care strategies are used to guide patients in order to reduce risks and to stabilize or prevent symptoms. This comprises medication adherence, symptom monitoring, dietary adherence, fluid restriction, alcohol restriction, weight monitoring, smoking cessation and exercise. 5

Medications for diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure are administered.  Additional medications such as antiplatelets (e. g. aspirin), beta blockers or nitroglycerin may be recommended. Besides optimized drug therapy and lifestyle changes, revascularization is the gold standard after AMI. At an advanced stage, procedures such as percutanous coronary intervention (PCI, e. g. balloon angioplasty or stents) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are performed in order to re-establish blood supply of the myocardial tissue, though still limited by non-viable myocardium. Especially in the case of the steadily increasing number of patients that are suffering from refractory angina (RFA) -defined as „a persistent painful condition which cannot be controlled by a combination of medication, PCI or GABG“- the prognosis remains poor, due to the lack of effective treatments. Several new alternative treatment methods are being investigated; a number of studies showed that transmyocardial and percutaneous myocardial laser revascularization TMLR), spinal cord stimulation and stem cell therapy may reduce angina symptoms and improve exercise capacity. Nevertheless, these treatment modalities are invasive, cost expensive or still at a preclinical stage. Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR), the most studied alternative therapy, is associated with significant early postoperative mortality risk. 6,7

It is therefore crucial to develop effective therapeutic strategies and the medical community is urgently looking for innovative ways to approach angiogenesis and regeneration of the ischemic / infarcted heart tissue!

Cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT)

is a promising non-invasive modality for patients with stable CAD and has been successfully applied in cardiovascular medicine since 1999 in a considerable number of clinical studies.

central-necrotic-area

 

 
Fig. 2: Schematic drawing depicting the central necrotic area of a myocardial infarction representing the non-viable infarction scar. This is surrounded with the peri-infarction zone consisting of the so-called hibernating myocardium. It is chronically undersupplied with blood and thereby oxygen as well as nutrients. This area can be recovered by shock wave treatment leading to improved heart function. (Figure and caption based on 11)

Spark Wave® Therapy – Mode of Action in Coronary Heart Diseases

At low energy levels, SWT is routinely used for the treatment of soft tissue injuries and non-healing bone fractures. The regenerative effects of SWT have been mainly attributed to the mediation and stimulation of regeneration-associated processes by induction of growth factor expression. Mechanotransduction -the translation of the physical stimulus to a biological response- is assumed to be the underlying mechanism. Most importantly, SWT leads to angiogenesis and neovascularization. Therefore, extensive research has been performed on cardiac SWT. 8

 

Angiogenesis -the sprouting of new capillaries from pre-existing blood vessels- starts with the release of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) which control the formation of new blood vessels. Maturation of vessels from capillaries to arterioles is mainly triggered by the placental growth factor (PLGF).9

 

Vasculogenesis -the de novo development of vessels- is performed by endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and vascular progenitor cells. The most important chemoattractant for the mobilization and recruitment of EPCs is stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1).10

SWT stimulates both. Vasculogenesis is the growth of new blood vesssels and angiogenesis is responsible for the remodelling and expansion of this network.

 

 

 

 
Fig. 3: Angiogenesis and vasculogenesis appear to be the pivotal effects of shockwave therapy leading to healing and regeneration of harmed tissue. Angiogenesis is mainly mediated by growth factors VEGF and PLGF whereas vasculogenesis depends on the SDF-1 / CXCR4 axis. (Figure and caption based on 11)
 

Clinical Status of Cardiac Shock Wave Therapy

CSTW in the animal model (rat, mouse, pig) indicated angiogenesis, i. e. more vital cells, recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells, higher number of vessels and increased microvascular density. The upregulation of pro-angiogenic growth factors, e. g.  VEGF, PLGF and SDF-1, was demonstrated. Angiogenesis as well as wound healing depend on inflammation in a specific timely manner. Moreover, Angiogenesis and inflammation are capable of influencing and potentiating each other. The clue of CSWT is modulation of inflammation in at least a bi-phasic manner over time in order to create the milieu for regeneration. 11,12

 

 

 
Fig. 4: A, Direct epicardial shock wave therapy. B,Technical drawing of the applicator for direct epicardial shock wave therapy. (Figure and caption taken from 13 )

 

CSWT in the clinical context is performed using a SW device coupled with a cardiac ultrasound targeting system and triggered under electro-cardiographic R-Wave gating. For optimal therapy, the treatment area is divided into target zones corresponding to the focal zone size of the SW applicator. 6

Direct epicardial shock wave therapy with MTS technology has been utilized in the course of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in a clinical pilot trial:

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00741065

Currently, another prospective, single-blind, randomized, single-centre study is being conducted at the Clinical Trial Center of the University of Innsbruck to investigate the safety and performance characteristics of the Direct Epicardial Shockwave Therapy System (DESWT) as applied with the Cardiac Shockwave Probe (CSP).

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03859466

 

This technique bypasses the potential risk of lung injury but the surgical access is still very invasive and direct epicardial SWT can therefore be used for CABG patients only. 13

specially

 
Fig. 5: Specially designed intracorporeal shock-wave applicator for direct epicardial shock wave therapy.

To date, several RCTs have demonstrated promising clinical outcomes without serious adverse effects. Latest systematic review and meta-analysis of CSWT studies in stable CAD demonstrated consistent improvement of clinical variables:6

    • Significant improvement of left ventricular (LV) function
    • Significant improvement of myocardial perfusion
    • Significant increase of angiogenesis markers
 

 
Fig. 6: Physiological principles that may underpin how ESWT improves myocardial
perfusion. SDF-1 = stromal cell-derived factor; VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor. (Taken based on 15 )

SWT represents a promising regenerative treatment option for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. It could serve as a promotor of „endogenous cell therapy“, without exhibiting the disadvantages of cell harvesting necessary for conventional cell therapy. It is non-invasive, cost-effective and has no side effects. CSWT could be translated efficiently into the clinical setting and is a promising option even for patients with end-stage CAD. Multicenter adequately powered randomized double blind studies are warranted.6,8

Clinical Implication – Cardiac Shock Wave Therapy for Coronary Heart Diseases:

  • Improvement of angina symptoms
  • Improvement of heart function
  • Improvement of myocardial perfusion
  • Improvement of exercise capacity
  • Improvement of quality of life
  • No complications or adverse effects were observed

Benefits of MTS Spark Wave® Therapy at a Glance:

  • Activation of endogenous growth factors (e. g. VEGFs, PLGF, BNDF, BMP, FGF-2, IGF-1, NO, PCNA, TGF-ß)
  • Induction of stem cell proliferation and migration
  • Stimulation of neovascularisation and angiogenesis
  • Enhancement of blood circulation and cell metabolism
  • Reduction of cell apoptosis and tissue necrosis
  • Modulation of the inflammatory response
  • Stimulation of the catabolism and natural anabolic growth function of tissues (skin, bones, tendons, joints, muscles, nerves and many more)
  • Promoting tissue remodelling and regeneration
  • Amelioration of myocardial fibrosis

→ CSWT as an effective, safe and non-invasive approach to treat refractory angina?!

 

Spark Wave® Therapy References for Cardiology:

Gollmann-Tepeköylü, C. et al. miR-19a-3p containing exosomes improve function of ischaemic myocardium upon shock wave therapy.Cardiovasc. Res. (2019). doi:10.1093/cvr/cvz209

 

Gollmann-Tepeköylü, C. et al. Shock wave therapy improves cardiac function in a model of chronic ischemic heart failure: Evidence for a mechanism involving vegf signaling and the extracellular matrix. J. Am. Heart Assoc. (2018). doi:10.1161/JAHA.118.010025

 

Tepeköylü, C. et al. Shockwaves prevent from heart failure after acute myocardial ischaemia via RNA/protein complexes. J. Cell. Mol. Med. 21, (2017).

 

Holfeld, J. et al. Epicardial shock-wave therapy improves ventricular function in a porcine model of ischaemic heart disease. J. Tissue Eng. Regen. Med. 10, 1057–1064 (2016).

 

Tepeköylü, C. et al. Alteration of inflammatory response by shock wave therapy leads to reduced calcification of decellularized aortic xenografts in mice. Eur. J. Cardio-thoracic Surg. 47, e80–e90 (2015).

 

Sukubo, N. G., Tibalt, E., Respizzi, S., Locati, M. & d’Agostino, M. C. Effect of shock waves on macrophages: A possible role in tissue regeneration and remodeling. Int. J. Surg. 24, 124–130 (2015).

 

Holfeld, J. et al. Shockwave therapy differentially stimulates endothelial cells: Implications on the control of inflammation via toll-like receptor 3. Inflammation 37, 65–70 (2014).

 

Holfeld, J. et al. Macrophage migration induces angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium after direct epicardial shock wave treatment. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. (2012). doi:10.1055/s-0031-1297858

 

Sansone, V. et al. Early angiogenic response to shock waves in a three-dimensional model of human microvascular endothelial cell culture (HMEC-1). J. Biol. Regul. Homeost. Agents 26, 29–37 (2012).

 

Zimpfer, D. et al. Direct epicardial shock wave therapy improves ventricular function and induces angiogenesis in ischemic heart failure. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 137, 963–70 (2009).

 

Dumfarth, J. et al. Prophylactic Low-Energy Shock Wave Therapy Improves Wound Healing After Vein Harvesting for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized Trial. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 86, 1909–1913 (2008).

 

 

Title Author Journal Year of Publication
Shock waves induce angiogenesis via exosome release Graber et al. 20th ISMST Congress in San Sebastian, Spain

Abstract P25

2017
Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac shock wave therapy Szwarc et al. 20th ISMST Congress in San Sebastian, Spain

Abstract P28

2017
The beneficial effects of in vitro shock wave treatment on cardiomyogenesis are energy dependent Fuchs et al. 4th ISMST Basic Research Meeting in Vienna, Austria 2016
Shock wave therapy causes increased macrophage recruitment and enhances M2 polarization Nägele et al. 4th ISMST Basic Research Meeting in Vienna, Austria 2016

 

References

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  6. Burneikaitė, G. et al. Cardiac shock-wave therapy in the treatment of coronary artery disease: systematic review and meta-analysis. Cardiovasc. Ultrasound (2017). doi:10.1186/s12947-017-0102-y
  7. Li H, L. M. Cardiac shock wave therapy: an alternative non-invasive therapy for refractory angina. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 22, 5402–5410 (2018).
  8. Gollmann-Tepeköylü, C. et al. Shock wave therapy improves cardiac function in a model of chronic ischemic heart failure: Evidence for a mechanism involving vegf signaling and the extracellular matrix. J. Am. Heart Assoc. (2018). doi:10.1161/JAHA.118.010025
  9. Carmeliet, P. Mechanisms of angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. Nature Medicine (2000). doi:10.1038/74651
  10. Dimmeler, S. ATVB in focus: Novel mediators and mechanisms in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (2005). doi:10.1161/01.ATV.0000187471.06942.17
  11. Holfeld, J., Lobenwein, D., Tepek??yl??, C. & Grimm, M. Shockwave therapy of the heart. International Journal of Surgery 24, 218–222 (2015).
  12. Holfeld, J. et al. Shockwave therapy differentially stimulates endothelial cells: Implications on the control of inflammation via toll-like receptor 3. Inflammation 37, 65–70 (2014).
  13. Zimpfer, D. et al. Direct epicardial shock wave therapy improves ventricular function and induces angiogenesis in ischemic heart failure. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 137, 963–70 (2009).
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