Urinary chondroitin sulfates, heparan sulfate and total sulfated glycosaminoglycans in interstitial cystitis

Purpose: We compared urinary glycosaminoglycan levels in patients with interstitial cystitis and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Total sulfated glycosaminoglycans assayed by dimethylmethylene blue binding and individual glycosaminoglycans analyzed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis were compared in patients with interstitial cystitis and healthy controls. Also, multiple urine samples were obtained from healthy female controls for 2 months to assess the relationship of urinary glycosaminoglycan and creatinine concentrations, and to determine whether glycosaminoglycan excretion changes during the menstrual cycle. Results: Total sulfated glycosaminoglycan and creatinine concentrations correlated well in random voided samples. Menstrual cycle day did not affect total sulfated glycosaminoglycan levels. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis revealed 3 bands corresponding to chondroitin sulfates, heparan sulfate and acidic glycoprotein. Patients with interstitial cystitis had decreased urinary concentrations of each of these individual components and total sulfated glycosaminoglycans. However, glycosaminoglycan- to-creatinine ratios were similar in interstitial cystitis and control urine. Conclusions: Using these assays total and individual urinary glycosaminoglycan levels normalized to creatinine were not altered in interstitial cystitis.