On acid glycosaminoglycans (mucopolysaccharides) in pleural effusion.

The concentration of acid glycosaminoglycans (mucopolysaccharides) in pleural fluid was found to be in the range of 4.0 to 60.3 mug per ml. By chromatographic analysis and by electrophoresis of the eluates, in combination with enzymatic digestion, it was found that pleural fluid contained protein-free hyaluronic acid, protein-bound hyaluronic acid, undersulfated chondroitin sulfate A(C), chondroitin sulfate A(C), protein-bound chondroitin sulfate A(C), and dermatan sulfate. The composition of acid glycosaminoglycans in pleural fluid seems to reflect the metabolism of the pleural cavity.