Glycosaminoglycan excretion in random samples of urine.

The measurement of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on a single random urine specimen in 405 healthy individuals and in 79 patients with mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) is described. The uronic acid (UA) content of the precipitated GAGs was estimated by the method of Bitter and Muir. The results were expressed as uronic acid to creatinine (UA/C) ratio. We found that the UA/C ratio decreased with age but had a rather constant low value between the ages of 20 and 33 in healthy individuals. Except for most patients with Morquio syndrome, the UA/C ratio in random urine samples was higher in patients with MPSs than in healthy individuals.