DETERMINATION OF URINARY AND SERUM PENTOSIDINE AND ITS APPLICATION TOELDER PATIENTS

Pentosidine, a fluorescent cross-linking compound, accumulates in extr acellular matrix, especially in the collagen, and is formed by the non enzymatic process of advanced Maillard reaction. We developed a method of determination of pentosidine and tried to examine its level in uri ne and serum of elder patients. The method, which involves the hydroly sis of samples, pretreatment using a CF-11 cellulose column and HPLC q uantification, resulted in a high recovery (94.3%) of pentosidine with low coefficient of variation (8-10%) of total analysis. Serum and uri nary levels of pentosidine in control subjects gradually increased wit h age. Elder patients with cerebral infarction showed higher levels of serum and urinary pentosidine as compared with those with senile deme ntia and other geriatric disorders, These results suggest that serious damage to systemic vascular tissues has already occurred in these pat ients due to glycation.