Endothelial progenitor cell mobilization by preoperative exercise: A bone marrow response associated with postoperative outcome

Abstract

Background. Preoperative anaemia is associated with increased morbidity in patients undergoing major surgery. Whether erythrocytes are the only bone-marrow-derived cell lineage that associates with increased surgical complications is unknown. This prospective observational trial studied the mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in response to exercise in association with postoperative complications. Methods. After IRB approval, 60 subjects undergoing major thoracic surgerywere exercised to exhaustion (peak VO2 ). Peripheral blood collected before and after peak exercise was quantified for EPC lineages by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. Complication analysis was bas..