Change of glycosaminoglycan in pus of patients with purulent pleurisy.

The glycosaminoglycan content in pus from patients with purulent pleurisy was studied. The uronic acid content rose in the first 4 hospital days, continued at a high level during hospital days 5-8, and then fell to a low level after 9 hospital days. Four glycosaminoglycans were isolated from the preparation; they were identified as hyaluronic acid, chondroitin 4-sulfate, chondroitin 6-sulfate, and dermatan sulfate. Hyaluronic acid was the main component and its relative proportion increased with increasing hospital days. The relative proportions of chondroitin 4-sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate were low during the first 4 day and during Days 10-21, whereas they were high during Days 5-9. The proportion of dermatan sulfate was high during the early hospital days, and thereafter decreased with increasing hospital days.