Syndecan-1 Predicts Outcome in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Infarction Independent from Infarct-related Myocardial Injury.

Syndecan-1 (sdc1) is a surface protein part of the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC). Soluble sdc1 is derived from shedding and indicates damaged eGC. We assessed the predictive value of plasma sdc1 concentrations for future cardiovascular events in acute reperfused ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. A total of 206 patients admitted for STEMI were included in this study (29% female; age 65 ± 12 years) and followed-up for six months. Plasma samples were obtained post-intervention and analyzed for sdc1 by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Primary outcome was six-month-mortality. Sdc1 did not correlate with biomarkers such as creatine kinase (CK) (r = 0.11; p = 0.01) or troponin (r = -0.12; p = 0.09), nor with infarct size (r = -0.04; p = 0.67) and myocardial salvage index (r = 0.11; p = 0.17). Sdc-1 was associated with mortality (changes per 100 ng/mL sdc-1 concentration; HR 1.08 95% 1.03-1.12; p = 0.001). An optimal cut-off was calculated at >120 ng/mL. After correction for known risk factors sdc1 >120 ng/mL was independently associated with mortality after 6 months. In our study, sdc1 is independently associated with six-month-mortality after STEMI. Combining clinical evaluation and different biomarkers assessing both infarct-related myocardial injury and systemic stress response might improve the accuracy of predicting clinical prognosis in STEMI patients.

Impairment of the endothelial glycocalyx in cardiogenic shock and its prognostic relevance.

In cardiogenic shock (CS), pathophysiological changes include microcirculatory dysfunction, vascular leakage, and an increase in platelet and leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium, as well as endothelial activation and dysfunction. The endothelial glycocalyx has been recognized as a central modulator of these processes. Glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate is a major component of the glycocalyx of endothelial cells, and syndecan-1 (S1) represents the most prevalent proteoglycan. The aim of the current study was to investigate circulating levels of the glycocalyx components in patients with infarct-related CS. In 184 patients with CS complicating acute myocardial infarction, blood samples were collected at admission and after one day. Intra-aortic balloon pumping was used in 94 patients (51%). Glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate and S1 were measured using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. All-cause mortality at 30 days was used for outcome assessment. Levels of S1 decreased between days 1 and 2 (339 [interquartile range [QR], 109-852] vs. 220 [IQR, 57-606] ng/mL; P = 0.01). In contrast, glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate increased over time (1.9 [IQR, 0.3-6.4] vs. 7.1 [IQR, 3.7-11.7] mg/mL; P < 0.001). Survivors at 30 days had lower admission S1 levels (P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, S1 remained an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (odds ratio per µg/mL, 2.2 [95% confidence interval, 1.30-3.58]; P = 0.003) together with serum lactate, age, and ejection fraction. Increased levels of S1 are an independent predictor of short-term mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction and CS.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00491036.