Increased circulating endothelial apoptotic microparticle to endothelial progenitor cell ratio is associated with subsequent decline in glomerular filtration rate in hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: Recent research indicates hypertensive patients with microalbuminuria have decreased endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and increased levels of endothelial apoptotic microparticles (EMP). However, whether these changes are related to a subsequent decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled totally 100 hypertensive out-patients with eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2). The mean annual rate of GFR decline (△GFR/y) was -1.49 ± 3.26 mL/min/1.73 m(2) per year during the follow-up period (34 ± 6 months). Flow cytometry was used to assess circulating EPC (CD34(+)/KDR(+)) and EMP levels (CD31(+)/annexin V(+)) in peripheral blood. The △GFR/y was correlated with the EMP to EPC ratio (r= -0.465, p