Nature of abnormal cell energy metabolism in chronic stress in children
Leukocyte enzymes (succinate dehydrogenase, α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase) were studied in 181 babies aged 1 to 12 months with hypotrophy (an energotropic stage) in order to evaluate cell energy metabolism at different stages of chronic stress. Grades 1, 2, and 3 hypotrophy was diagnosed in 77, 68, and 13 infants, respectively. Prenatal hypotrophy was established in 111 cases: syndromic and non-syndromic one in 38 and 73 cases, respectively. A control group consisted of 23 babies. In addition, the leukocyte enzymes (succinate dehydrogenase, α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase) were determined in 150 children aged 10 to 14 years (a trophotropic stage). Of them, 52 were diagnosed as having labile primary arterial hypertension (in 35 and 18 with and without metabolic syndrome); 48 had a stable stage (in 30 and 18 with and without metabolic syndrome). A control group comprised 31 children without obesity and arterial hypertension, but with signs of vegetative dystonia. It was ascertained that besides carbohydrate and lipid metabolic disturbances, the children with hypotrophy and metabolic syndrome had pronounced changes in mitochondrial enzyme activities, which were suggestive of the staging and phasic nature of chronic stress.