Acid glycosaminoglycans in myxoedema

Acid glycosaminoglycans were measured in the tissues of a virtually untreated 83-year-old woman with myxoedema. Intercellular oedema was demonstrated histologically in the tongue, myocardium, striated muscles, and in the skin. Tissue oedema was absent in two female control patients. All tissues from the patient with myxoedema, apart from the stomach, showed high concentrations of hyaluronic acid, but there was no consistent elevation of chondroitin-4,6-sulphate, heparan sulphate or dermatan sulphate. The accumulation of hyaluronic acid might contribute to the oedema formation in myxoedema.