Diagnostic and therapeutic tools for diseases altering vascular function

1. A method for reconstituting the integrity of a glycocalyx, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) assessing the status of the glycocalyx by:

(a) determining the width of at least 10 Red Blood Cells in a microvascular blood vessel;

(b) repeating step (a) for at least 10 microvascular blood vessels; and,

(c) determining the median or average red blood cell width value from the determined widths, wherein the glycocalyx width equals half of the difference between the maximal red blood cell width value and the median red blood cell width value; thereby assessing the status of the glycocalyx;

(ii) reconstituting the integrity of the glycocalyx when the assessment of the status of the glycocalyx indicates that the status of the glycocalyx is compromised.

2. The method according to claim 1 , additionally comprising the step of:

(d) determining the Capillary Volume Reserve from the size distribution of the red blood cell width measurements, wherein the Capillary Volume Reserve is the square of the maximum red blood cell width divided by the square of the mean red blood cell width.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the maximal red blood cell width value comprises the P99 value of the red blood cell width distribution; or RBCWmax.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the median red blood cell width value comprises the P50 value of the red blood cell width distribution; or RBCWmedian.

5. A method for identifying compounds, cardiovascular risk factors, or lifestyle factors modulating the status of the glycocalyx, the method comprising:

determining a baseline status of the glycocalyx in a subject via a method comprising:

(a) determining the width of at least 10 Red Blood Cells in a microvascular blood vessel;

(b) repeating step (a) for at least 10 microvascular blood vessels;

(c) determining the median or average red blood cell width value from the determined widths, wherein the glycocalyx width equals half of the difference between the maximal red blood cell width value and the median red blood cell width value; thereby determining the baseline status of the glycocalyx;

administering to the subject a compound of interest or altering a cardiovascular risk factor or a lifestyle factor in the subject;

determining, after the administration or alteration, an experimental status of the glycocalyx in the subject via a method comprising:

(a) determining the width of at least 10 Red Blood Cells in a microvascular blood vessel in the presence and absence of a compound of interest, cardiovascular risk factor, or lifestyle factor;

(b) repeating step (a) for at least 10 microvascular blood vessels;

(c) determining the median or average red blood cell width value from the determined widths, wherein the glycocalyx width equals half of the difference between the maximal red blood cell width value and the median red blood cell width value; thereby determining the baseline status of the glycocalyx;

wherein a difference in the baseline status of the glycocalyx and the experimental status of the glycocalyx identifies said compound, cardiovascular risk factor, or lifestyle factor as modulating the status of the glycocalyx.

6. A computer comprising a processor, memory, and a computer program, wherein the computer program directs the processor to:

(a) read red blood cell width distribution data; and

(b) determine the width of at least 10 Red Blood Cells in a microvascular blood vessel;

(c) repeat step (b) for at least 10 microvascular blood vessels; and,

(d) determine the median or average red blood cell width value from the determined widths,

wherein the glycocalyx width equals half of the difference between the maximal red blood cell width value and the median red blood cell width value.