In Brief:
Of 46 coronary artery disease patients who completed a 36-session cardiac rehabilitation program, 35 showed significant increases in circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Those patients whose EPCs increased from baseline showed significant increases in nitric oxide in the blood, versus no change in patients without increase in EPCs. Over the course of cardiac rehabilitation, EPCs increased prior to increase in nitric oxide in the blood, consistent with endothelial repair.
