title: The effect of chemonucleolysis on serum keratan sulfate levels in humans.
abstract: Sensitive measurements of serum keratan sulfate (KS), a glycosaminoglycan found in large quantities in the proteoglycans of human cartilage, can be obtained using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent-inhibition assay. Patients who are undergoing chemonucleolysis (CN) provide a clinical opportunity to monitor the large-scale proteolytic degradation of cartilage. By measuring serum KS levels both pre- and post-CN, we have demonstrated that serum KS levels rise predictably after CN, in a manner that reflects major catabolic events of cartilage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612-3864.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Schnitzer
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jeffery
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: McNeill
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Thonar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002356:Cartilage / Q000378:metabolism; D002917:Chymopapain / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007404:Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007632:Keratan Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D007632:Keratan Sulfate; D002917:Chymopapain