FUNCTIONAL STATE OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIUM WITH HYPERHOMOCYSTEINEMIA IN CHILDREN WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Background. Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that can have a damaging effect on the vascular endothelium, being an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular pathology. The purpose. To evaluate the functional state of the vascular endothelium in hyperhomocysteinemia in children with arterial hypertension. Material and methods. 111 children aged 14 to 18 years were examined. All patients were divided into 3 groups: group I (n=51) consisted of children with arterial hypertension, group II (n=30) included those with high normal blood pressure, group III was composed of 30 healthy children. Plasma homocysteine was determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Results. Plasma homocysteine concentration increases in patients with high normal blood pressure and arterial hypertension compared with healthy children. Pathological decrease in endothelium-dependent vasodilation is accompanied by an increase in the concentration of homocysteine in the blood plasma.