Effects of therapeutic plasma exchange on the endothelial glycocalyx in septic shock

Background: Disruption of the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) is observed in septic patients and its injury is associated with multiple-organ failure and inferior outcomes. Besides this biomarker function, increased blood concentrations of shedded eGC constituents might play a mechanistic role in septic organ failure. We hypothesized that therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) using fresh frozen plasma might influence eGC-related pathology by removing injurious mediators of eGC breakdown while at the time replacing eGC protective factors. Methods: We enrolled 20 norepinephrine-dependent (NE > 0.4 mu g/kg/min) patients with early septic shock (onset < 12 h). Sublingual assessment of the eGC via sublingual sidestream darkfield (SDF) imaging was performed. Plasma eGC degradation products, such as heparan sulfate (HS) and the eGC-regulating enzymes, heparanase (Hpa)-1 and Hpa-2, were obtained before and after TPE. A 3D microfluidic flow assay was performed to examine the effect of TPE on eGC ex vivo. Results were compared to healthy controls. Results: SDF demonstrated a decrease in eGC thickness in septic patients compared to healthy individuals (p = 0.001). Circulating HS levels were increased more than sixfold compared to controls and decreased significantly following TPE [controls: 16.9 (8-18.6) vs. septic patients before TPE: 105.8 (30.8-143.4) mu g/ml, p < 0.001; vs. after TPE: 70.7 (36.9-109.5) mu g/ml, p < 0.001]. The Hpa-2/Hpa-1 ratio was reduced in septic patients before TPE but normalized after TPE [controls: 13.6 (6.2-21.2) vs. septic patients at inclusion: 2.9 (2.1-5.7), p = 0.001; vs. septic patients after TPE: 13.2 (11.2-31.8), p < 0.001]. Ex vivo stimulation of endothelial cells with serum from a septic patient induced eGC damage that could be attenuated with serum from the same patient following TPE. Conclusions: Septic shock results in profound degradation of the eGC and an acquired deficiency of the protective regulator Hpa-2. TPE removed potentially injurious eGC degradation products and partially attenuated Hpa-2 deficiency.

Automated summary

Therapeutic plasma exchange using fresh frozen plasma may play a role in mitigating endothelial glycocalyx damage in patients with septic shock, reducing injurious degradation products and partially restoring protective factors.