Endothelaemia--a marker of vascular damage.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the amount of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in patients with an advanced cardiovascular (CV) disease, compare the values with a control group and finally to ascertain if there are statistically significant differences within the studied patient groups. BACKGROUND: Endothelaemia has been intensively studied as a marker of vascular injury. Clinical studies have demonstrated an increased endothelaemia in patients at high CV risk but also in certain non-cardiovascular disorders. Its possible usage in the diagnostics of the acute coronary syndrome and for CV risk assessment needs further investigations. METHODS: Thirty six hospitalized patients were studied. Quantitative measurement of endothelaemia was performed by the method developed by J. Hladovec. It is based on ECs counting in Burker's chamber after their isolation with platelets and the removal of the latter by an addition of adenosine-diphosphate. RESULTS: The mean baseline endothelaemia was significantly higher in patients with increased cardiovascular risk when compared with the control group (1.38 +/- 0.899): ACS (4.9 +/- 1.59, p < 0.05) and PAOD (3.74 +/- 0.61, p < 0.05). When comparing the mean endothelaemia values in patients with PAOD before (2.67 +/- 0.86) and after (3.88 +/- 0.77) surgery, a significant increase of endothelaemia was observed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our pilot study, though limited by a relatively small number of patients, proved a significant increase of endothelaemia in patients at high CV risk, which is consistent with other available data. The introduction of newer specific methods based on immunomagnetic principles may provide a wider use of endothelaemia measurement in clinical settings (Fig. 3, Ref. 17). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.