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Figure 5 (A) Patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) had lower levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) when compared to controls and to non-vascular subjects. In all PVD patients circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) were not significantly lower and thus the EPC/CPC ratio was reduced. Only in diabetic patients with PVD were CPC counts significantly reduced. (B) Linear regression analysis showing correlation between EPCs and CPCs with the ankle brachial index (ABI) in patients with lower extremity vascular disease. The ABI values >1.40 were excluded because they suggest the presence of non-compressible arteries due to calcific sclerosis. (C) Patients with foot lesions due to end-stage lower extremity vascular disease had significantly lower EPC and CPC levels than PVD patients without foot lesions. (D) Circulating EPC numbers and EPC/CPC ratios were higher in PVD patients on statin therapy than in nontreated patients. Mean values ± SE. DM-PVD = diabetic patients with peripheral vascular disease; NS = not statistically significant.