The effect of dextran infusions on glycosaminoglycan excretion in the Sanfilippo syndrome.

Infusion of a dextran solution of equivalent osmolality to plasma into a patient with the Sanfilippo syndrome caused an increased excretion of uronic acid. This increase was less than that obtained previously, when an equal amount of plasma was infused into the same patient. Moreover, there were no significant changes in the ratio of larger to smaller glycosaminoglycan fragments or in the sulphate/uronic acid ratios, in contrast to the changes noted subsequent to plasma infusion. It is concluded, therefore, that in this case infusion of dextran was not as effective as plasma in inducing a temporary increased mobilisation of pathological glycosaminoglycans.