Comparative analysis of the predictive power of different endothelial progenitor cell phenotypes on cardiovascular outcome.

Aim: To compare the predictive power of different endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) phenotypic markers for future cardiovascular events.
Methods: Peripheral blood was collected from 76 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention in our institute. The various EPC phenotypes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were CD34+CD133+, CD34+KDR+, and CD 133+KDR+. The outcome endpoint included cardiovascular mortality, recurrent ACS, and hospitalization for decompensated heart failure during a 24-mo follow-up period.
Results: CD34+CD133+ cells (P = 0.034), but not CD34+KDR+ (P = 0.35) or CD 133+KDR+ cells (P = 0.19), were found to predict recurrent ACS. We found no correlation between EPCs measured by any of the three phenotypic combinations of accepted CD markers and the total combination of these separate outcomes.
Conclusion: The EPC CD34+CD133+ phenotype, but not the CD34+KDR+ or the CD 133+KDR+ phenotypes, is predictive of future adverse cardiovascular outcomes.