The carbohydrate and ester sulfate content of mucosal biopsies in health and in patients with duodenal ulcer

The carbohydrate and ester sulfate contents of duodenal mucosal biopsies from patients with duodenal ulcer and from control subjects have been determined by gas—liquid chromatography. The net amounts and molar ratios (to glucosamine) of fucose, galactose, mannose, glucose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine and sulfate were similar in both groups. These findings suggest that sulfated glycoproteins, which inhibit the proteolytic activity of pepsin, are not involved in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer.