[Fibrillar protein content of the vascular wall of children].

The content of fibrillar proteins was studied in 50 aortas of children dying at the age of 4 to 16 years of various diseases and accidents. In the intact intima of aortas the content of elastin and collagen increased with age. In lipid spots of the vascular wall of children the content of elastin was lower than in the intima, and the amount of collagen was higher than in the normal intima. In 15% of the aortas of children over 10 years of age lipid spots were found the content of collagen in which was above its average levels and biochemically reflected the development of collagen structures in lipid spots with destruction of lipid containing cells and release of lipids into the extracellular space. In rhythmical structures the content of fibrillar proteins increased as compared with normal intima irrespective of the age. The rhythmical structures with lipoidosis were intermediate with regard to the content of fibrillar proteins between "pure" rhythmical structures and lipid spots.