THE CHANGES OF ULTRASOUND AND MORPHOLOGICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE THYMUS GLAND IN NEWBORNS WITH INTRAUTERINE PARAINFLUENZA OF 1 AND 3 TYPES

Abstract

The study of the echostructure of the thymus gland in 43 newborns including those at 34-36 weeks of gestation (n=23) and of 38-40 weeks of gestation (n=20) as well as the morphological thymus constitution in 39 died children of the perinatal age with antenatal parainfluenza infection was done. The control group included 55 healthy newborns of 34-36 weeks (n=25) and 38-40 weeks of gestation (n=30) from mothers who did not have acute and chronic infections during pregnancy. It was found out that intrauterine parainfluenza infection in 23 children of 34-36 weeks of gestation in comparison with the control group led to the increase of the thymus width till 2.6±0.08 sm, the organ weight till 9.2±0.50 g, the gland volume till 6.6±0.37 sm³, and also the ratio of the organ weight / the child’s body weight till 0.34±0.02. In the control group the same parameters were 2.2±0.05 sm (р<0.001), 6.7±0.39 g (p<0.001), 0.24±0.01 (p<0.001), respectively. 17.4% of preterm babies with intrauterine parainfluenza 1 and 3 types had the signs of thymomegalia which were not revealed in healthy newborns. Intrauterine virus infecting in 20 patients of 38-40 weeks of gestation in comparison with healthy children was not followed by any changes of morphometric parameters of the thymus gland. But ultrasound markers of thymomegalia were identified in 15% of cases. Tiny hyperechogenic inclusions were found in gland parenchyma of preterm babies 8.7 times oftener (p<0.05) in comparison with healthy babies. The obtained results allow to state that under antenatal parainfluenza of 1 and 3 types the preterm babies have more intensive changes of echostructure and morphology of the thymus gland.