Measuring blood-vessel lining damage in organ donors after brain death
Endothelial Glycocalyx Status and Damage in Brain Death Organ Donors
This project will test whether measuring damage to the endothelial glycocalyx in people declared brain dead who are organ donors can help guide ways to improve donated organs.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University Hospital Hradec Kralove Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hradec Králové) |
| Trial ID | NCT05609123 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study enrolls patients declared brain dead who are potential organ donors and characterizes endothelial glycocalyx (EG) degradation using biochemical markers and bedside measurements. Samples and clinical data will be collected prior to organ procurement and linked to donor factors and short-term graft function when available. The investigators will describe EG status across donors to identify patterns associated with worse organ quality or transplant outcomes. Findings are intended to inform strategies for organ optimization, particularly for marginal donors.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients declared brain dead in intensive care who are potential organ donors.
Not a fit: People who are alive, not declared brain dead, or not organ donors would not be eligible and would not benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians recognize damaged donor organs and guide treatments to improve organ function after transplant.
How similar studies have performed: Previous observational studies have reported that EG shedding markers (for example, syndecan‑1) correlate with vascular injury and worse outcomes in critical illness and transplantation, but using these measures to guide donor optimization is still preliminary.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * patients in critical condition declared as brain dead by clinical examination Exclusion Criteria: * N/A
Where this trial is running
Hradec Králové
- University Hospital Hradec Kralove — Hradec Králové, Czechia (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: David Astapenko, MD, PhD
- Email: david.astapenko@fnhk.cz
- Phone: +420495833218
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.