Summary Morphological Structure of the Thymus in Newborns with Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection

Abstract

The aim of the work was to study the morphological structure of the thymus gland in 36 full-term newborns who died at the 2-5 day of life. The main group included 16 newborns who were diagnosed with intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection by the serological method and polymerase chain reaction. Cerebral ischemia of moderate and severe degree, subarachnoid and periventricular hemorrhages, as well as markers of local and generalized forms of congenital infection were revealed in children of this group. The comparison group wasrepresented by 20 newborns with antenatal ontogenesis, uncomplicated by acute respiratory and herpes-virus infections, moderate and severe somatic and obstetric pathology in their mothers during pregnancy. The cause of their death was birth trauma, intranatal and postnatal hypoxia. In the description of the neonatal thymus, attention was paid to the following features: the general plan of the structure; structural changes in the capsule of the gland; the structure of the cortical and brain matter; violation of loose fibrous connective tissue and blood vessels of the organ. It was found out that the structure of the thymus gland in the main group was different from that in the comparison group, especially a predominance of neonates with increase and decrease in the organ mass. With the growth of the mass of the thymus there was frequently revealed sub capsular hemorrhage; the sharpness of borders de creased or completely disappeared between cortical and medullary substance; the areas of crust delymphatisation, Hassall’s corpuscles filled with detritus were often identified. The edema of the interlobular loose fibrous connective tissue increased, the endothelial edema and its desquamation in the lumen of blood vessels were noted. Lymphocyte clusters in the interlobular connective tissue were clearly visualized. In the case of a de- crease in the body mass, small lobules, excessive formation of collagen fibers in the interlobular connective tissue, the loss of lymphocytes in the cortical sub- stance and small Hassal’s bodies were more often recorded. Stimulation of thymus growth may be associated with the direct cytodestructive effect of the virus and intrauterine stress, leading to a drop in cortisol content. In the inhibition of immunopoesis growth, pro- longed antenatal antigenic stimulation, higher level of cortisol against progressing alterative processes in glan dulocyte of the cortex of suprarenal glands of the fetus play an important role.