Fluid Resuscitation and Markers of Glycocalyx Degradation in Severe Sepsis

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between fluid resuscitation and glycocalyx degradation in severe sepsis.

Methodology: 15 post-thoracotomy patients with severe sepsis and 11 patients in recovery after open chest surgery (controls) were enrolled.

Results: Plasma syndecan-1 concentrations were significantly higher in the sepsis group than that in control group, and were correlated with fluid balance in the sepsis group (P=0.026). Survival was not related to trends in plasma syndecan-1 concentrations (ascending/descending) in the sepsis group (P = 0.409). Fluid balance at 24 h was significantly higher in sepsis patients who died than in those who survived (P = 0.010). Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores, duration of mechanical ventilation, and length of intensive care unit stay did not differ with the trend of plasma syndecan-1 concentrations. Compared with plasma syndecan-1 concentrations, lactate clearance at a cutoff of 0.40% had a higher diagnostic value.

Conclusions: In patients with severe sepsis, the glycocalyx plays an important role in liquid distribution in different phases. With time, it changes as well. At present, lactate clearance has greater diagnostic value than plasma syndecan-1 concentrations in severe sepsis. A better indicator of endothelial glycocalyx is therefore required.