Aim To analyze the correlation between circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) function, stromal derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and Gensini score in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods 140 cases were divided into 2 groups:CHD group (n＝80) and control group (n＝60), and CHD group was divided into 3 subgroups according to the result of coronary angiography and the CHD Gensini score. The peripheral blood was isolated and cultured from the study subjects. EPC activity was assayed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. EPC chemotaxis ability was evaluated by chemotaxis test. Serum SDF-1α level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results (1)EPC activity and chemotaxis ability in CHD group were significantly lower than those in control group (P＜0.01, P＜0.05). With the increase of lesion degree, the EPC activity and chemotaxis ability were significantly decreased. (2)Serum SDF-1α level in CHD group was significantly lower than that in control group (P＜0.01). Serum SDF-1α level in severe stenosis group was significantly lower than that in mild stenosis group (P＜0.01). (3)Linear correlation analysis showed that EPC activity, chemotaxis ability and serum SDF-1α level decreased with the increase of Gensini score, and were negatively correlated (r＝－0.224, P＜0.05; r＝－0.39, P＜0.05; r＝－0.31, P＜0.05). Serum SDF-1α level decreased with the decrease of EPC chemotaxis ability, and was positively correlated (r＝0.38, P＜0.05). ConclusionsEPC function and serum SDF-1α level are significantly decreased in patients with CHD, and the more severe the coronary lesion degree, the lower the EPC activity and chemotaxis ability. The decrease of serum SDF-1α level is consistent with the decrease of EPC chemotaxis ability.