Observations on urinary chemiluminescence of normal smokers and non-smokers and of patients with bladder cancer.

Abstract

Summary A relaitively simple procedure th the measurement of urinary chemiluminesece is descirbed and some of the variable affecting such measurmnt are examined. Normal urinary chemiluminescence is due to a low molecular weight and freely dialysible compound. Addition of blood to urine causes chemiluminescence which is not dialysible. Although there was very considerable overlap between the groups, it was found that urinary chemiluminescence was higher in normal smokers than in normal non-smokers and higher still in patients with bladder cancer. These results were statistically significant. Considering only bladder cancer patients who were also tobacco smokers, the urinary chemiluminescence was higher when tumour was present than when tumour was absent. Oral distribution of ascorbic acid reduced urinary chemiluminescence of both normal smokers and non-smokers. There were no significant differences in urinary ascorbic acid levels between normal smokers and non-smokers, and patients with bladder cancer whether smokers or non-smokers.