Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence activated cell sorting in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI], n = 35; non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI], n = 30) and stable CAD (6 months after stent implantation without progression, n = 15) compared with control subjects (n = 15).