ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the association between circulating endothelial cells (CECs)and atherosclerosis in maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)patients. Methods A crosssectional study was performed to investigate the association between CECs and carotid atherosclerotic change in 65 MHD patients,25 non-hemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD)of stage 4 or 5(CKD-non-HD)and 24 age-and Sex-matched healthy controls. CECs in peripheral blood were determined by multiparametrie flow cytometry(FCM).CECs were labeled with CD3-PerCP and CD146-PE before FCM and identified as CD3dim,CD146bright.Atherosclerosis in both groups Was assessed by the measurement of common carotid arery intimamedia thickness (CCA-IMT)and plaque of the common carotid arteries with ultrasound scanner. Results CECs were significantly higher in pre-dialysis patients[(151.52±98.24) cell/ml]and CKD-non-HD patients[(183.00±81.38)cell/ml ] compared with control group[(106.50± 24.14)cell/ml](P<0.05 and P<0.01,respectively).But the number of CECs was not significantly different between MHD and CKD-non-HD patients.CCA-IMT was also significantly higher in MHD patients[(0.94±0.36)mm]and CKD-non-HD patients [(1.02±0.37)mml compared with control group[(0.75±0.15)mm](P<0.05 and P<0.01,respectively).The number of pre-dialysis CECs was positively correlated with CCA-IMT in MHD patients(r=0.328,P<0.01).Multivariate analysis showed that CEC level was a strong independent risk factor of CCA-IMT. Conclusion InMHD patients, CEC level is associated with carotid atherosclerosis and may be used as a marker to evaluate the endothelial damage.