Studies on serum mucoproteins in patients with urinary calculi

A significant increase in serum mucoproteins in stone patients has been observed previously. The present study describes the variation of the constituents of mucoproteins obtained on hydrolysis. The serum mucoproteins of 31 patients with urinary calculi (13 with kidney stone, 7 with bladder stone and 11 with stones in other sites) were analysed and compared with that of 15 healthy control subjects, who had no personal or family history of calculi. The mucoproteins, glycosylated serum proteins, hexosamine and sialic acid were increased in all patients irrespective of the site of stone, while uronic acid decreased as compared with the control subjects. Serum fucose increased in all patients except in kidney stone formers. Uronic acid decreased in all stone formers irrespective of the site of the stone. It is suggested that a different type of mucoprotein is present in such patients.