[Extractability of collagen from the rib cartilage and skin in funnel chest in children].

Content of collagen and relative content of unextractable collagen were increased by 35% and 50%, respectively, while the content of immobilized water was decreased in costal cartilage of children with the isolated form of funnel chest or with the deformation accompanied by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. These anomalies may be considered as indicators of the cartilage premature ageing. In skin of the children with isolated form of funnel chest the ratio of collagen extracted with acetic acid was increased 2-fold.