Glycosaminoglycans as inhibitors of stone formation.

The presence of glycosaminoglycans in the kidney, bladder and urinary tract exerts influence on stone formation through prevention of growth and aggregation. The source of the urinary glycosaminoglycans is contentious with respect to the relative contribution of the kidney and bladder secretions to the overall inhibitory power. Mechanisms have been advanced for the action of glycosaminoglycans, and the active species involved appears dependent upon the degree of sulfation of the molecule. Thus, the ultimate role of glycosaminoglycans as urinary inhibitors of stone formation may well be dictated by the specific nature of the glycosaminoglycan present and its inherent acidic properties. The overall contribution of urinary glycosaminoglycans to protect against urolithiasis however still needs to be evaluated.