The excretion of glycosaminoglycans in the urine of calcium-oxalate-stone patients and healthy persons.

A method for the routine determination of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in urine has been optimized and is described here in detail. In 24-hour urine, males excrete significantly more GAGs than females. GAG excretion increases with advancing age. No significant difference exists between GAG excretion in healthy persons and in Ca-oxalate-stone patients. GAG excretion is diet-dependent and declines under conditions of balanced standardized diet. Evidence was obtained to show that GAG excretion follows a circadian rhythm with maximum during the day and minimum during the night. Both stone patients and healthy persons with hyperuricosuria show an increased GAG excretion.