Circulating glycosaminoglycan species in septic shock.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are negatively charged polysaccharides present, e.g., on the luminal face of the blood vessels as heparan sulphate (HS) and hyaluronic acid (HA), in the interstitium as HA, and in neutrofils and plasma as chondroitin sulphate (CS) and HA. Total plasma levels of GAG are increased in human septic shock, but the origin and pathophysiological implications are unclear. In order to determine the source of circulating GAG in sepsis, we compared plasma levels of HS, HA, CS and keratan sulphate (KS) in patients with septic shock and controls.