Micromethod for the determination of glycosaminoglycans in the serum. Results from the serum of healthy and varicose subjects.

Serum glycosaminoglycans (GAG) were isolated from 1 ml of serum by a modification of the method of Y. Emura and T. Mukuda (J. Jap. Biochem. Soc., 45 (1973) 30). The extraction was carried out as quantitatively as possible and the hexuronic acids in the GAG were measured with m-hydroxydiphenyl. This method for determination of the GAG is relatively easy, easily reproducible and requires no more than two days. Its application in clinical chemistry may prove to be useful in the detection of diseases involving connective tissue. A study was carried out with serum samples from 34 patients suffering from serious varicose conditions, compared with samples fro 30 healthy subjects. The mean concentration of GAG in the serum of healthy persons was 0.602 +/- 0.108 (p smaller than 0.0005). There were not, however, any significant variations between patients suffering from serious varices without trophic changes and those with comparable varices accompanied by trophic changes, such as phlebitis, thrombosis and ulcers.