Endothelial progenitor cell levels in obese men with the metabolic syndrome and the effect of simvastatin monotherapy vs. simvastatin/ezetimibe combination therapy

Abstract

EPC levels are reduced in apparently healthy men with abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome, even in the absence of manifest CVD. This is important as EPCs contribute to endothelial regeneration and thereby protect against CVD. SCF-sR may be a candidate serum marker of circulating EPC levels. Treatment with low-dose statin with ezetimibe combination therapy or high-dose statin monotherapy has similar effects on the reduced EPC levels.