Tissue Content of Glycosaminoglycans in the Diffuse Idiopathic Interstitial Fibrosis Patient

Abstract

Quantitative changes of glycosaminoglycans in lung tissues of patients with diffuse idiopathic interstitial fibrosis and patients with bronchial asthma were studied. The total amount of glycosaminoglycans in lung tissue of patients with diffuse idiopathic interstitial fibrosis increased in comparison to the lung tissue of those patients with bronchial asthma. The increase in tissue content of glycosaminoglycans was accompanied by an increase in dermatan sulfate level. The increases in total amount of glycosaminoglycans in relative proportion of dermatan sulfate were closely related to the clinical findings, including vital capacity of the lung, PaO2, serum lactate dehydrogenase, and to the pathologic pictures of the lung.