Higher numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in stroke patients with intracranial arterial stenosis

Background: Bone marrow-derived endothelial stem cells participate in vascular repairs. Numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) are associated with atherosclerosis. Fibrinogen plays a key role in atherosclerosis. Objective was to assess if cEPC counts were associated with atherosclerotic intracranial artery stenosis (IAS). Methods: Three hundred subjects (108 patients with stroke and IAS (IAS), 120 control patients with stroke without IAS (CP), and 72 healthy controls (HC)) were retrospectively analyzed. cEPCs were identified and counted by flow cytometry using CD34, CD133 and KDR. Plasma fibrinogen was measured by immunoturbidimetry. cEPC counts were compared between the three groups. Results: cEPC numbers were significantly higher in IAS (0.059 +/- 0.031%) than in CP (0.026 +/- 0.012%) (P < 0.001) and HC (0.021 +/- 0.011%) (P < 0.001), but without difference between CP and HC (P = 0.401). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that cEPC levels (OR 3.31, 95% CI 1.26-8.87, P = 0.025; IAS vs. CP) were independent markers of IAS after adjustment for hypertension, diabetes and smoking. No significant correlation between cEPC counts and plasma fibrinogen levels was observed (P > 0.05). Conclusion: cEPC numbers were associated with degrees of IAS. This measurement may be useful for non-invasive evaluation of atherosclerotic IAS.