ROLE OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES IN CARDIAC REMODELING IN A PEDIATRIC CASE OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE DYSPLASIA

Connective tissue dysplasia (CTD) is a group of hereditary diseases characterized by disruption of the structure and function of connective tissue, which can affect various organs and systems, including the cardiovascular system. One of the main molecular mechanisms contributing to the development of pathologies in CTD is an imbalance in the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are responsible for the destruction of the extracellular matrix. The purpose of this study is to assess the activity of MMP in plasma in a child with connective tissue dysplasia of the heart and to analyze the role of the gelatin zymography method in the study of myocardial remodeling. The paper presents a clinical case of a 13-year-old girl with cardiac connective tissue dysplasia. To assess MMP activity, the gelatin zymography method was used, which revealed a significant increase in the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which indicates pathological processes of degradation of the extracellular matrix and impaired myocardial remodeling. The results obtained confirm the importance of this method in the diagnosis of diseases associated with cardiac remodeling and highlight its potential in clinical practice for monitoring the progression of diseases associated with connective tissue disorders.