Acute Inflammation

Question 1

GENERAL SIGNS OF ACUTE INFLAMMATION

Answer 1

Heat – because of local reaction
Redness – blood slows because vessels dilate
Swelling – fluids leak from vessels to dilute the damage
Pain and loss of function – this allows time to heal
blisters on the skin (serous acute inflammation)

Question 2

SYSTEMIC SIGNS

OF ACUTE INFLAMMATION

Answer 2

Fever (pyrogens – good or bad)
Leukocytosis (increase leukocyte count – leucocytes are white blood cells)
C-reactive protein,
Acute phase proteins
Acute phase reactions such as sleepiness, hypotension

Question 3

NATURE OF ACUTE INFLAMMATION

Answer 3

STEREOTYPED, PREDICTABLE
1. CHANGES IN BLOOD VESSELS
2. INCREASED FLUID FROM VESSELS
3. INCREASED LEUCOCYTES (NEUTROPHILS, LYMPHOCYTES) IN INFLAMED AREA
(NB: a vascular and cellular response)

• Site of damage/necrosis initiates an inflammatory response.

Question 4

process

Answer 4

Movement of fluid into the extra vascular space
Proteins and red cells also leak out of vessels Leucocytes (principally neutrophils) migrate to the injured area (CHEMOTAXIS)
- endothelial cells become activated -upregulate surface adhesion molecules
Phagocytosis by neutrophils

Question 5

WHAT CAUSES CHEMOTAXIS?

Answer 5

Chemical substances (chemokines, cytokines) are released at the site of injury.
These are responsible for the vessel and cellular changes of acute inflammation.
Chemotaxis leads to movement of inflammatory cells via a chemical gradient. Concentration of the chemo-attractant is highest near the injury.

Question 6

Acute inflammation aims to heal but the outcome may be harmful: Meningitis:

Answer 6

viral/bacterial infection in meninges, inflammatory response, oedema. Oedema causes increased pressure. This in turn causes headache, etc. Inflamed (dilated) meningeal blood vessels become occluded. Haemorrhagic infarction of associated brain occurs.

Question 7

Acute inflammation aims to heal but the outcome may be harmful - Laryngitis:

Answer 7

viral/bacterial infection, inflammatory response, oedema, airway obstruction

Question 8

remember !

Answer 8

INFLAMMATION MAY BE GOOD AND BAD
It is essential for repair and healing
Acute and chronic
There are many overlapping processes for repair and healing including
repair, immune, inflammation