ABSTRACT
Objective To study the changes of the number of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and blood lipid level in critically ill patients and their clinical significance. Methods The CECs were separated by using isopyknic centrifugation method and blood lipid level was determined in 35 critically ill patients and 20 healthy controls. CEC number and blood lipid level were compared between the two groups. And the correlation of CEC number and blood lipid level was analyzed. Clinical data from the critically ill patients was evaluated with acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ; the correlation analysis of APACHEⅡscore, CEC number and blood lipid level was made. Results CEC number in the critically ill patients was significantly higher than that in healthy controls(P