The Study Of Correlations Between Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells And Acute Ischemic Stroke

PurposeTo explore correlations between circulating endothelial progenitor cells and acute ischemic stroke;To evaluate the hypothesis that the level of circulating EPCs is predictive of risk factors for ischemic stroke,and the level of circulating EPCs is predictive of severe neurological impairment and prognostic outcomes after acute ischemic stroke.MethodsA total of 120 individuals were examined,including 60 patients with ischemic strokers,30 patients with cerebrovascular risk factors and 30 healthy controls. Circulating EPCs were defined by the surface markers CD133+/KDR+ and analyzed by flow cytometry. neurological impairment severity was evaluated at 3 days by National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale,and functional outcome was assessed at 3 weeks by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.Results1. Blood pressure,glucose,triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were all higher in IS and at-risk control groups than in healthy control subjects,but they did not differ between at-risk control groups and healthy control subjects. There were no differences in total cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol among three groups.2. The level of circulating EPCs was substantially higher in patients with IS than in at-risk control groups,however,it was lower in patients with IS than healthy control subjects.3. Multiple liner regression analysis revealed that coronary artery disease and current smoking were shown to be inversely correlated with the level of circulating EPCs.4. Univariate analysis demonstrated a significantly lower level of circulating EPCs in patients with NIHSS≥12 than in patients with NIHSS<12 at 72 hours after IS.5. Logistic regression analysis revealed that high circulating EPC level was predictive of less severe neurological impairment(defined as a score <12 on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) at 72 hours after IS(odds ratio=0.065 ;95%CI0.007 to0.996 ,P=0.015).6. Logistic regression analysis revealed that higher level of circulating EPCs was significantly predictive of improvement of NIHSS≥4 on day 21 after IS. (odds ratio=0.557 ;95%CI0.311 to0.996 ,P=0.048).Conclusions1. The level of circulating EPCs was strongly correlated with risk factors for ischemic stroke.2. the level of circulating EPCs was predictive of neurological impairment .3. the level of circulating EPCs is independently predictive of prognosis after IS.