[Elimination of glycosaminoglycans in duodenal peptic ulcer and problems of its pathogenesis]

Changes in the excretion and composition of proteoglycans specific for duodenal ulcer were studied in 50 patients with duodenal ulcer, 30 patients with gastric ulcer, 30 patients with chronic endogenous gastroduodenitis and in 35 healthy persons. In all the examinees proteoglycans were isolated from daily urine, their carbohydrate components--glycosaminoglycans (GAG)--were separated and divided into fractions (keratan sulfate, hyaluronic acid, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate-4, chondroitin sulfate-6, dermatan sulfate, and heparin) by column chromatography on unmodified cellulose. It has been established that only peptic ulcer is characterized by disorders in GAG excretion differing in the period of exacerbation and remission. Changes in the composition of proteoglycans excreted with urine resulted probably from a deficiency of chondroitin sulfate-6 in patients with chronic duodenal ulcer. The deficiency was more marked during exacerbation but did not disappear in the period of remission of duodenal ulcer either.