Abstract:Endothelial microparticles are the vesicles without nucleus shed from the plasma membranes of endothelial cells that are activated or undergoing apoptosis, which is involved in many signal transduction in vivo. The action of endothelial microparticles detaching from the endothelial cell is regulated precisely by a variety factors in vivo,and which play a key role in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. In this paper the structure, function of the endothelial microparticles and their association with cardiovascular diseases, especially the clinical significance of endothelial microparticles in cardiovascular diseases risk assessment, monitoring and treatment, combined with the current research progress are reviewed.