title: The role of endothelial progenitor cells in transient ischemic attack patients for future cerebrovascular events.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the maintenance of vascularization following ischemic brain after experimental stroke has been established. Accordingly, in this study, we evaluated the role of circulating EPCs in transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients for future cerebrovascular (CV) events.
  
  
  METHODS
  The level of circulating EPCs (staining markers: CD34, CD309) were determined using flow cytometry at 24 h after TIA in thirty consecutive patients. The EPCs level was also evaluated once in thirty healthy volunteers. Over a period of 12 months, all patients were evaluated by an experienced neurologist for recurrent TIA, stroke or death induced by CV disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulating EPCs increased in patients group following the first attack of TIA when compared with controls. By analysis of covariance, cardiovascular event history, hyperlipidemia, and statin therapy remained significant independent predictors of EPCs. The mean (standard deviation) duration of follow-up was 10.5 (3.1) months (range, 2-12 months). During follow-up, a total of three patients died due to CV accident and four patients experienced again recurrent TIA. By analyzing data with Cox regression, EPC did not predict the future CV events in TIA patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased incidence of future CV events did not occur in those patients with elevated EPCs in the first attack of TIA. The significant predicting factors of EPCs were cardiovascular event history, hyperlipidemia, and statin therapy.
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Rokhsareh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meamar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nikyar
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dehghani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Biochemistry Laboratory, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences,Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maedeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talebi
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dehghani
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghasemi
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Neurology, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Behnaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Neurology, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saadatnia
keywords: Endothelial progenitor cell; prognosis; transient ischemic attack