A method for the quantitative determination of urinary glycosaminoglycans.

A method is presented by which the urinary glycosaminoglycans can be isolated in a macromolecular fraction with complete recovery by preparative gel filtration. The urinary glycosaminoglycans can be quantitated by determinations of uronic acid and sulfaminohexose in the macromolecular fraction. Using untreated, random urine specimens of less than 5 ml volume, clinical mucopolysaccharidoses types I, II, and III could be readily distinguished.