AimTo investigate the isolation and culture of endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood in patients with coronary heart diseases, and to determine cell shape, amount and clusters.And to study the correlation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) number and the stenosis degree in coronary artery.MethodsMononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood of patients with coronary heart diseases (n＝57) and control (n＝30).The isolated cells were cultured.And the correlation of EPC number and the stenosis degree of coronary artery was studied in patients with coronary heart disease.ResultsThe number of EPC was significantly reduced in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with control subjects (23.1±1.8 vs 56.7±2.4).In addition, the number of cell clusters was also impaired in patients with CHD (14.7±2.5 vs 24.2±1.7).EPC number and function were decreased with the degree and extent of coronary artery stenosis.ConclusionsThe number of cell clusters, proliferative capacity of EPC was significantly reduced in patients with CHD compared with control subjects.The number of EPC have negative correlation with the degree and extent of coronary artery stenosis.