Reply to Sergej V. Jargin: shock wave therapy of ischemic heart disease in the light of general pathology

Abstract

Low energy shock wave therapy has developed as a treatment standard or alternative therapy for a variety of orthopaedic and soft tissue diseases. In experimental studies it shows very promising results for the treatment of ischemic heart disease. Sergei V. Jargin reported on a device on the basis of a modified lithotripter that is currently used in Russia. He supposes the tissue regenerative effect to be an injury-and-repair process, which may end up in myocardial function loss. This hypothesis is contradictory to findings of numerous research groups. Low energy shock waves show in both clinical and experimental studies a safe and highly effective tissue regenerative potential that is mediated by various molecular and sub-molecular effects. Therefore low energy shock wave therapy is a promising treatment option for ischemic heart disease.