Objective: To observe the effect and clinical significance of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease with unstable angina pectoris (CHD-UAP)

and to explore the protective effect of Chinese herbs for activating blood circulation

removing stasis and supplementing Qi (CH) on CHD-UAP patient’s CEC.Methods: Sixty patients with diagnosis of CHD-UAP confirmed and differentiated to be Qi-deficiency and blood stasis by TCM were randomly divided into two groups and treated

on the basis of Western drug-therapy

with Tongxinluo capsule

(TXL) and Huoxue Tongmai capsule (HXTM) respectively by way of oral taking three times a day

3 capsules every time

with 1 month as one therapeutic course. The number of CEC in patients’ blood circulation was counted before and after treatment. Besides

the number of CEC in 30 healthy persons was also counted for control.Results: The number of CEC in CHD-UAP patients was significantly higher than that in the healthy persons (P<0.01). After the patients were treated with CH

either TXL or HXTM

it significantly decreased (P<0.01) with insignificant difference between the two treated groups.Conclusion: CEC in CHD-UAP patients is severely damaged and endothelial function in disorder

Chinese herbs have protective effect on patients’ CEC.