Evaluation of related variables on endothelial progenitor cells in first transient ischemic attack

Background and aims: In a transient ischemic attack (TIA), the activation of the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) has a prominent rolein the formation of collateral vessels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of effective variables (e.g., hypertension, diabetes,hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, a family history of cardiovascular diseases, and statin therapy on the level of EPCs in TIA.Methods: Thirty patients suffering from the first attack of TIA, without having a history of acute cerebral injury, surgery or trauma, and blooddisorders were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Then, flow cytometry was utilized to estimate the level of EPCs CD۳۴ and CD۳۰۹ andthe results were evaluated based on the t test or the Mann-Whitney test. Finally, the Pearson or Spearman correlation was used to establishthe relationship between the variables. The level of P < ۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant in this study.Results: The mean±SD number of CD۳۰۹ in patients with hyperlipidemia was less than those with no hyperlipidemia (۳.۳۵±۲.۷۷ vs.۵.۵۹±۳.۸۵, P = ۰.۰۲) and diabetic patients had a significantly higher number of CD۳۰۹ compared to non-diabetics (۶.۱۴±۴.۸۹ vs, ۳.۵±۳.۴۹, P = ۰.۰۵). Conversely, the mean number of CD۳۴ in groups with or without the studied variables was not statistically significant. Theresults further revealed that the average total of CD۳۰۹ and CD۳۴ was significantly lower in patients with hyperlipidemia as compared tothose with no sign of hyperlipidemia (۹.۴۴± ۳.۰۵ vs. ۶.۶۷±۴.۶, P = ۰.۰۲). Using logistic regression, the intended variables demonstrated nosignificant effects on endothelial cells, and the relationship between age and the number of progenitor cells was not significant.Conclusion: In our study, only hyperlipidemia acted as a factor influencing the numbers of EPCs. Therefore, more studies with larger samplesizes are required to discover the role of these variables on progenitor cells in TIA.

Keywords:

Transient ischemic attack , Endothelial progenitor cell , Risk factors