PENTOSURIA IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Pentosuria is not a rare condition, although the opportunity to study cases in detail does not frequently present itself. We were particularly fortunate in having the opportunity to observe four cases in children within a year. No attempt will be made to review the literature, as Margolis 1 recently gave a complete bibliography of the subject and a review of seventy-eight cases. Among them were six in children under 15 years of age. There are three chief types: (1) alimentary pentosuria, (2) pentosuria associated with diabetes and (3) essential pentosuria. The alimentary type of pentosuria occasionally follows the ingestion of a large amount of fruit. Klercker 2 stated that pentosuria could be traced to the ingestion of nucleoprotein, but his impression is not universally accepted. The excretion of pentose by diabetic persons has often been described. We have examined the urine of diabetic children under our observation and frequently have