LEVELS OF SERUM GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS IN RENAL-FAILURE

We measured the concentration of serum glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in pa tients with glomerulonephritis, renal failure and on hemodialysis usin g the dye binding method. In glomerulonephritis, concentration of seru m GAGs did not increase, and there was no correlation between serum an d urinary GAGs. In patients with renal failure and hemodialysis, conce ntration of serum GAGs was significantly lower than in controls. Conce ntration of serum GAGs was correlated with concentration of serum albu min, which is an indicator of malnutrition in patients on hemodialysis . One month of hemodialysis did not affect the concentration of serum GAGs in patients with renal failure, but six months of hemodialysis in creased the concentration of serum GAGs. These results suggest that ma trix production is suppressed in renal failure with malnutrition.