Correlation Between Optic Nerve Vessel Anomalies, Serum Angiogenic Factors and Renal Anomalies in Down Syndrome Children

Overview

In approximately half of individuals with Down syndrome, an higher than normal number of vessels cross the optic disc margin. Investigator hypothesize that early retinal vessel branching occurs due to inhibition of angiogenesis by triplet overexpression of endostatin, an angiogenesis inhibitor encoded on chromosome 21. Since angiogenesis is critical in the development of eyes and other organs angiogenesis depended (specially kidney, brain, and recently described lungs and heart), early branching of retinal vessels at the level of the optic disc would also likely result in abnormal renal and other organs development in these individuals. Investigator wish to determine whether observation of optic disc vessels may serve as an indicator of elevated endostatin levels and other angiogenesis-dependent organs anomalies.

Investigator will measure the serum levels of endostatin as well as others angiogenetic factors in Down syndrome children versus control group 1 constituted by the patient mothers. Investigator will also perform renal and low urinary tract Doppler ultrasound with measurement of renal dimension in order to determine if the kidneys of patients with high level of serum of endostatin are smaller than those of patients with normal level of endostatin. Data observed in Down syndrome children will be compared to control group 2age constituted by sex and age matched healthy children Urine microalbuminuria and urine microalbuminuria/creatinuria from the first urine in the morning will be evaluated.

Conditions