title: Darbepoetin improves endothelial function and increases circulating endothelial progenitor cell number in patients with coronary artery disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterised in part by an imbalance of endothelial decline and endothelial repair. Erythropoietin has been connected to vasculoprotective effects such as enhanced nitric oxide production in endothelial cells and mobilisation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of erythropoietin on endothelial function and EPC mobilisation in humans with atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective single-blind monocentric study of 20 patients randomly assigned to the test drug or placebo treatment over 4 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 Patients with stable coronary artery disease receiving optimal medical treatment with either weekly subcutaneous injections of saline (placebo) or the recombinant erythropoietin darbepoetin (60 μg/injection) over 3 consecutive weeks. At the initial and final visits, flow mediated dilatation (FMD) was determined by ultrasound. The number of EPC was determined as the number of CD34/CD133 positive mononuclear cells in peripheral blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with darbepoetin resulted in a significantly improved FMD in each patient, whereas no difference was seen in placebo-treated patients. The FMD of darbepoetin-treated patients increased by 7.5±1.64%. Additionally, an increase in peripheral blood EPC of 50±24% was seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Darbepoetin given in addition to optimal medical treatment resulted in a significantly improved endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease, indicating a promising new atheroprotective treatment option.
authors: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Sigmund Freud Str 25, Bonn 53105, Germany. cornelius.mueller@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors: Cornelius
authors: C
authors: Mueller
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Wodack
authors: Kaja
authors: K
authors: Twelker
authors: Nikos
authors: N
authors: Werner
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Custodis
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Nickenig
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin