Glycosaminoglycans. A biochemical and clinical review

The development of physiochemical techniques for the fractionation and characterization of complex macromolecules, in addition to biologic and cell culture techniques, has provided significant advances toward an understanding of the role of these substances in normal and pathologic states. This review focuses on recent developments concerning acid mucopolysaccharides. Sufficient biochemistry has been included so that clinical manifestations in the mucopolysaccharidoses may be interpreted in the light of current metabolic concepts, but the review is not intended for those whose primary interest may extend to detailed considerations of acid mucopolysaccharide structure and metabolism.