Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a progressive clinical syndrome characterized not only by impaired cardiac pump function but also by multi-system vascular abnormalities, among which endothelial dysfunction plays a central role. Increasing evidence indicates that damage to the endothelial glycocalyx (EG)—a highly dynamic layer consisting of glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans—is a key mechanism linking inflammation, microvascular impairment, and organ dysfunction in CHF.

x

Urschel K, Cicha I. TNF-α in the cardiovascular system: from physiology to therapy. International Journal of Interferon, Cytokine and Mediator Research. 2015;7:9–25.

Weinbaum S, Tarbell JM, Damiano ER. The structure and function of the endothelial glycocalyx layer. Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering. 2007;9:121–167.

Reitsma S, Slaaf DW, Vink H, van Zandvoort MA, oude Egbrink MG. The endothelial glycocalyx: composition, functions, and visualization. Pflügers Archiv – European Journal of Physiology. 2007;454(3):345–359.

Lipowsky HH. The endothelial glycocalyx as a barrier to leukocyte adhesion and its mediation by extracellular proteases. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 2012;40(4):840–848.

Chappell D, Heindl B, Jacob M, et al. Sevoflurane reduces shedding of the endothelial glycocalyx: a randomized clinical trial. Anesthesiology. 2014;121(5):121–134.

Dogné S, Flamion B, Caron N. Endothelial glycocalyx damage in patients with chronic kidney disease. American Journal of Physiology – Renal Physiology. 2018;315(4):F1151–F1161.

Tylutki Z, Krzanowski M, Krzanowska K, et al. Syndecan-1 as a marker of endothelial glycocalyx injury in chronic heart failure. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2020;9(11):3490.

Dimitriadis K, Psarros C, Tsioufis C. Biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in heart failure. Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2012;19(16):2706–2717.

Becker BF, Chappell D, Jacob M. Endothelial glycocalyx and coronary vascular permeability: the fringe benefit. Basic Research in Cardiology. 2010;105(6):687–701.

Zia AA, Finder SG, Lindner JR, Linder R, Iida K, Harrington KD. Heparan sulfate shedding and endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular Research. 2014;103(3):497–500.