Urinary proteoglycan degradation product excretion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The excretion of sugar components of glycosaminoglycans in the urine was investigated in 19 healthy controls, 27 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 24 with osteoarthritis. Both groups of patients excreted significantly more glucosamine, galactosamine, and mannose than the controls. The total uronic acid excretion, also, was higher in the two groups than in the healthy subjects. The possibility of using this method for the long term follow up of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and the response to treatment is discussed.