SYNTAX Score is associated with circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with coronary artery disease

Background: The SYNTAX score (SXscore) is a comprehensie, angiographic tool for grading the seerity and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD). The association between the circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) number and the seerity and complexity of CAD determined by SXscore is unclear. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that SXscore is associated with EPC leels in CAD patients. Methods: Flow cytometry was used to assess circulating EPC numbers by quantification of EPC markers (defined as CD34+, CD34+ KDR+, and CD34+KDR+CD133+) in the peripheral blood of patients undergoing coronary angiography. Results: Eighty-eight patients with CAD confirmed by electie coronary artery angiography and 27 age-and sex-matched controls with normal coronary angiogram were enrolled. The SXscore index was ealuated in all CAD patients and ranged from 4 to 43, with a median of 22.We diided the CAD patients into mild CAD (SXscore: 1-22) and severe CAD (SXscore > 22) groups. Compared to mild CAD patients and controls, patients with severe CAD had a higher incidence of hypertension, preious myocardial infarction, and more severe coronary lesions. Furthermore, severe CAD patients had significantly increased concentrations of high-sensitiity C-reactie protein and decreased circulating EPC leels s. mild CAD patients and controls. Multiariate logistic regression analysis showed that circulating EPC leels were inersely associated with severe CAD (CD34+KDR+: odds ratio, 0.93 [0.88-0.98]; p = 0.024). Conclusion: CAD patients with high SXscore hae lower circulating EPC leels and enhanced inflammation in comparison to CAD patients with low SXscore.