Endothelial progenitor cells during cerebrovascular disease.
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.
Ghani
Usman
U
Stroke Research, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Shuaib
Ashfaq
A
Salam
Abdul
A
Nasir
Aman
A
Shuaib
Umar
U
Jeerakathil
Tom
T
Sher
Faiz
F
O'Rourke
Fintan
F
Nasser
Abdul Majeed
AM
Schwindt
Brenda
B
Todd
Kathryn
K
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*