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Full list of author information is available at the end of the articleBackground Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is chronic inflammatory disease that is associated with significantly increased risk of development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) [1]. Patients with RA suffer from 2-5-fold higher morbidity and mortality related to CVD which in turn leads to the shortened (by 5-10 years) life expectancy [2]. Development of CVD in RA patients is caused by progressive endothelial dysfunction and damage [3]. Preservation of well-functioning endothelium, its ap-propriate repair and regeneration is warranted by continuous supplementation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) [2]. EPC originate from bone marrow, circulate in peripheral blood and keep responding to signals initiated by endothelial injury that stimulate maturation of EPC to new endothelial cells [4]. Thus, EPC remain a key regulator of vascular maintenance and repair [2,3,5,6]. Indeed, decreased numbers and/or impaired function of EPCs in adult RA patients were as