Abstract
Prenatal diagnosis was successfully accomplished by investigating mucopolysaccharide pattern in amniotic fluid for two women who had previously borne children affected with the Hurler syndrome. Amniotic fluid obtained at the 20 th week of gestation from Case A of high risk pregnancy revealed an abnormal pattern of mucopolysaccharides, a striking increase in dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate. Her pregnancy was terminated and the aborted fetus was proved to be affected with the Hurler syndrome. In Case B of high risk pregnancy, amniotic fluid obtained at the 20 th week of gestation showed normal pattern of mueopolysaccharide. Her pregnancy was continued and resulted in the delivery of a healthy girl at full term. This chemical method for antenatal detection of the Hurler syndrome is thought to be useful and reliable in the later stage of pregnancy.
