Detection of an early marker of cerebrovascular disorders in children with connective tissue dysplasia syndrome by Echo-Tracking

Introduction. The prevalence of connective tissue in the cerebrovascular system is determined by a large number of "vascular" symptoms and syndromes in children with various forms of connective tissue dysplasia. A change in the structure of the connective tissue of the arterial wall is a constitutional risk factor for disorders due to a decrease in elastic properties. Discussions on thealgorithm of "management" of pediatric patients with structural abnormalities of brachiocephalic arteries and the identification of an etiological factor in most cases of cerebral circulatory disorders (CCD) show the need to identify new diagnostic criteria (markers) for early prevention of brain catastrophes.Objective: to evaluate the elastic properties of brachiocephalic arteries in children with connective tissue dysplasia syndrome, to determine the marker of CCD. Materials and methods. 190 children aged 5 to 17 years were examined: 40 patients with brachiocephalic artery abnormalities (Ehlers-like phenotype), among them 22 children with CCD, 18 children without CCD, as well as 150 practically healthy children. The studies were carried out by ultrasound methods of duplex scanning of extracranial vessels in standard B-mode and by the method of determining elastic properties (echotreking) with the determination of parameters:cross-sectional compliance coefficient (CC), arterial stiffness index (SI, β), Peterson elasticity modulus (EMr), pulse wave propagation velocity (PWV).Results. By the method of echotreking, the CC coefficient of the vascular wall was determined as a marker for assessing the possibility of stroke in pediatric patients with a probability of 72%. Conclusions. Vascular abnormalities belong to the syndrome of connective tissue dysplasia, which leads to the development of cerebrovascular disease in pediatric patients. Determination of elastic properties is necessary for early prevention of cerebrovascular disorders.