Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Bone marrow-derived circulating progenitor cells BM-CPCs in patients with coronary heart disease are impaired with respect to number and mobilization. However, it is unknown whether the mobilization of BM-CPCs depends on the number of diseased coronary arteries. This impairment may augment with an increased number of diseased coronary arteries.
Circulating progenitor cells are primitive bone marrow BM cells that have the capacity to proliferate, migrate and differentiate into various mature cell types [ 1 , 2 ]. During ischaemia, populations of BM-CPCs are mobilized and recruited to ischaemic areas, accelerating the neovascularization process [ 3 ].
Previous studies demonstrate that cardiovascular risk factors CVRFs for coronary artery disease correlate with a reduced number and functional activity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells [ 4 ]. Moreover, diabetic patients showed impaired proangiogenic and colony-forming activity of circulating progenitor cells [ 5 , 6 ]. The study included IHD patients and 40 healthy subjects between years of age.
Positive family history was defined as documented evidence of coronary artery disease CAD in a parent or sibling before 60 years of age. Diabetes was defined as the need for oral antidiabetic drug therapy or insulin use. Exclusion criteria were the presence of acutely decompensated heart failure with a New York Heart Association NYHA class of IV, infectious or inflammatory disease, active bleeding, surgery or trauma within two months, renal or liver dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, or anaemia, a severe comorbidity and alcohol or drug dependency, a history of other severe chronic diseases or cancer, or unwillingness to participate.
The study conforms with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the local ethics committee. Written consent was obtained from each patient. All IHD patients underwent left heart catheterization, left ventriculography and coronary angiography.
