title: Endothelial progenitor cells during cerebrovascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are associated with endothelial repair after ischemia in cardiac or peripheral circulation. There are no reports of EPCs with cerebrovascular disease. We present our experience with EPCs in patients with cerebrovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  EPC counts differed significantly (P<0.001) between stroke patients (acute stroke: median 4.75 and range 0 to 33; stable stroke: median 7.25 and range 0 to 43) and control subjects (median 15.5 and range 4.3 to 50), independent of age. The level of EPCs was significantly correlated with the Framingham coronary risk score (FCRS) (rho=-0.349; P=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar to cardiac experience, the low EPC levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Stroke Research, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Usman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ghani
authors.forename: Ashfaq
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shuaib
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salam
authors.forename: Aman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasir
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Shuaib
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jeerakathil
authors.forename: Faiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sher
authors.forename: Fintan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: Abdul Majeed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nasser
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schwindt
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Todd
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood*; D002452:Cell Count; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood*