Abstract: Objective To observe the quantity of circulating endothelial cells (CECs)in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS),and to investigate the effect of sodium ferulate (SF)on the vascular endothelial cell (VEC)of PSS patients. Methods 38 PSS patients were treated with SF,CEC of all patients were detected quantitatively before and after the treatment,and compared with that of 53 healthy controls. Results After the treatment with SF,the skin sclerosis,distal pain,cold sensation,and ulcer index in 38 PSS patients were improved (P<0.01);the number of CEC also decreased,from 3.40± 0.27/0.9μL before treatment which was markedly higher than that of normal controls (1.13± 0.48/0.9μL)to 1.80± 0.58/0.9μL after treatment. Conclusion SF can not only improve the clinical manifestations of the PSS patients,but protects the VECs from injury and has a good therapeutic effect on PSS patient.

Key words: Scleroderma,systemic, Endothelium,vascular, Sodium ferulate