Altered kinetics of circulating vascular progenitors in patients with cardio-pulmonary bypass associated vasoplegia

Background and Aims: Patients undergoing cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery exhibit endothelial dysfunction and vascular damage, often leading to post-operative vasoplegia. Circulating vascular progenitors (CVPs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are known to routinely home into the site of damaged endothelium and vessel wall for repair. The aim of this pilot study was to enumerate real time kinetics of progenitor cells during different stages of CPB and to determine the association of the trend with severity of vasoplegia.