Research Projects

Guillain Barre syndrome (GBs) is a neurological illness affecting all age groups in India, resulting from an abnormal immune response to previous infections. As the illness progresses, patients require ICU care and mechanical ventilation to support their respiratory system. They are at higher risk for sepsis, oedema, and hypercoagulable states due to enhanced endothelial activation. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a proven treatment modality, but its effect on vascular endothelial glycocalyx (eGCX) integrity in GBs patients is unknown. To identify the disruption in eGCX integrity in GBs patients requiring TPE, researchers are measuring endothelial structural proteins (syndecan1, heparan sulphate, and E-selection levels). They are also examining if the endothelial disruption differs between critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation at ICU and those admitted at wards. The researchers are correlating clinical methods of endothelial activation to plasma markers of endothelial disruption and examining the effect of replacement fluids used during TPE. Ultrasound guided assessments of endothelial activation and blood samples for endothelial structural proteins will be conducted at baseline, after the 1st, 5th, and 72-hour cycles of TPE. Changes in various parameters recorded will be observed and analyzed.