HOMEOSTATIC MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATION OF CUTANEOUS SULFUR LOSSES

[摘要] Whether a homeostatic mechanism exists for the compensation of increased cutaneous nutrient losses was investigated. A group of psoriatic patients were studied in comparison with a group 6f control subjects. Complete sulfur balance studies were carried out in the 2 groups including estimation of cutaneous losses and determination of the urinary partition of sulfur. In the control group the absorption of sulfur was correlated with the urinary inorganic sulfate excretion, but that divergence from the relationship was found in the psoriatic group. In these subjects the urinary inorganic sulfate excretion was below that predicted by the regression line of sulfate excretion on sulfur absorption for the controls. An inverse relationship was found between the magnitude of the cutaneous losses and the cutaneous sulfur losses and the urinary inorganic sulfate excretion measured/gm of sulfur absorbed. The potential significance of these findings was discussed with special reference to the implications of diminished sulfate excretion in persons with extensive dermatoses.