chondroitin and Kidney-Calculi

In 50 calcium oxalate stone-forming patients, the total excretion of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and of four subgroups [chondroitin-4-sulfate (CS-A), chondroitin-6-sulfate (CS-C), dermatan sulfate (DS) and hyaluronic acid (HY)] were investigated before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and during the subsequent 5 days. The standard value was determined by reference to a group of healthy test subjects. The excretion of GAGs was significantly higher in healthy test persons than in stone-forming patients. Twenty-four hours after ESWL administration, GAG excretion was enhanced significantly but returned to normal values over the course of 3 days. ESWL had no influence on the proportional composition of GAG subgroups CS-A, CS-C, DS and HY. The increase in GAG excretion after ESWL indicates a transient injury of renal tissue or of the mucus layer lining the urothelium. This lesion, however, can be regarded as temporary with later restitutio ad integrum.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Calcium Oxalate; Chondroitin; Chondroitin Sulfates; Creatinine; Dermatan Sulfate; Epithelium; Female; Glycosaminoglycans; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Kidney; Kidney Calculi; Lithotripsy; Male; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Sex Factors

A method was developed for the determination of urinary chondroitin sulphate (CS), including dermatan sulphate and chondroitin 4 and 6-sulphates, using an enzymatic degradation with chondroitinase-ABC followed by precipitation with Alcian blue, whereby CS was determined as the difference between undigested and chondroitinase digested material. The method was linear in the range 0-100 mg l-1 with a detection limit of 1 mg l-1 and allowed determinations on small urine volumes without pretreatment of the urine. It could be demonstrated that males excreted more CS than females, and growing children had the highest urinary content of CS. Renal calcium stone formers did not differ from healthy controls in urinary CS. Patients with acromegaly had a higher excretion of CS compared with controls. There was also, in these patients, a positive correlation between the serum growth hormone levels and the urinary CS, indicating that CS-excretion may be an estimate of the activity of the pituitary disorder.

Topics: Acromegaly; Alcian Blue; Chemical Precipitation; Chondroitin; Chondroitin Sulfates; Dermatan Sulfate; Female; Heparin; Humans; Kidney Calculi; Male; Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester