SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASE MORPHOGENESIS

Abstract

Objective. To specify a morphogenetic pathogenesis of the Scheuermann’s disease. Material and Methods. Growth plates, intervertebral discs, vertebral body tissue (surgical material) from 25 patients of 12–14 years old with Scheuermann’s disease of Grade II–III were examined. In-depth morphohystochemical, biochemical, and ultrastructural analyses were used to study glycosaminoglycans, oxidation-reduction enzymes, alkaline and acid phosphatase, RNA, DNA, and qualitative and quantitative composition of glycosaminoglycans. Results. Pathogenetic mechanisms of Scheuermann’s disease development are presented basing of previously obtained data on genetic dependence of this pathology. The starter of the spine kyphotic deformity is a disturbance of proteoglycan molecule synthesis and conformation in ventral growth plates of vertebral bodies. The structural change in proteoglycans, which perform barrier-trophic, informational, and antiinvasive functions results in a decreased mitotic and proliferative activity of chondroblasts. The spine kyphotic deformity develops in association with an active osteogenesis.