Does photochemotherapy induce the apoptosis of monocytes without impairing their function?
Our data demonstrate that monocytes undergo apoptosis and loose a part of their migratory capacity after ECP and the surviving cell functionalities are not impaired, suggesting that monocytes have a minor effect on ECP-mediated immunomodulation.
Regardless to the education intervention an improvement of the disease status occurs during cardiac rehabilitation. The effective single components are still unclear. The evaluated education program leads specifically to an improved disease-related knowledge and improved self-management skills. Due to these results it seems useful to include cardiac rehabilitation in heart failure disease-management programs - a specific heart failure education program should be integrated.