aetiology and pathogenesis of vascular disease Flashcards
what is an aneurysm?
localised abnormal dilation of a blood vessel or the heart; they can be congenital or aquired
what does a true aneurysm involve?
intact attenuated arterial wall or thinned ventricular wall of the heart
causes of true aneurysms (4)
atherosclerosis; syphilis; congenital vascular aneurysms; ventricular aneurysms that follow transmural myocardial infarctions
types of true aneurysms (3)
saccular; fusiform; dissecting
what is an arterial dissection
when blood enters the arterial wall itself as a haematoma dissecting between its layers
what is a false aneurysm (pseudoaneurysm)
defect in the vascular wall leading to an extravascular haematoma; blood flow outside normal layers of arterial wall
characteristics of a false aneurysm (4)
freely communicates w the intravascular space; pulsating haematoma; surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule in communication with the lumen of a ruptured vessel; DOES NOT INVOLVE ALL THREE TUNICA LAYERS (i.e. rupture interna + media but not externa)
difference between a pseudoaneurysm and a dissection
Pseudoaneurysm: all three walls of the vessel have been broken through, and blood collects just outside the vessel, it doesn’t spread through the vessel and blood organises and become firm
Dissection: only the inner portion of the vessel wall is damaged, blood enters into that damaged area and tunnels up or down within the wall of the vessel
how are aneurysms generally classified?
shape and size
what are saccular aneurysms
spherical outpouchings involving only a portion of the vessel wall; between 5-20cm; often contain thrombus
what are fusiform aneurysms
diffuse, circumferential dilation of long vascular segment; up to 20cm in diameter and length; may involve the aortic arch, abdominal aorta, iliac arteries
what is the pathogenesis of aneurysms (4)
the intrinsic quality of the vascular wall connective tissue is poor; the balance of collagen degradation and synthesis is altered; the vascular wall is weakened through loss of smooth muscle; arteries are dynamically remodelling tissues
conditions associated with poor intrinsic vascular connective tissue (3)
Marfan’s syndrome - defective synthesis of fibrillin and progressive weakning of elastic tissue results in progressive dilation of BVs due to remodelling of inelastic media;
EDS - weak vessel walls due to defective type III collagen synthesis;
Vit C deficiency - altered collagen cross linking
pathogenesis of collagen degradation and aneurysms
local inflammatory infiltrates that produce destructive proteolytic enzymes; increased MMP production by macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques/vasculitis - these can degrade all he components of arterial walls
how can the vascular wall be weakened
loss of smooth muscle cells with inappropriate synthesis of non-collagenous/non elastic ECM
how does ischaemia of the inner media occur
atherosclerotic thickening of the intima increases the distance that oxygen and nutrients have to diffuse
how does ischaemia of the outer media occur
systemic hypertension causing narrowing of the arterioles of the vasa vasorum resulting in cystic medial degeneration
what is cystic media degeneration
degenerative changes with smooth muscle cell loss and loss of elastic fibres, inadequate ECM synthesis and production of amorphous ground substances
factors predisposing to weakening of arterial wall (in descending order -6)
- atherosclerosis
- hypertension (usually ascending aortic aneurysms)
- trauma
- vasculitis
- congenital defects (e.g. in the circle of Willis causing berry aneurysms)
- infections (mycotic aneurysms)
where can mycotic aneurysms originate from (3)
embolization of a septic thrombus (usually a complication of endocarditis); an extension of an adjacent suppurative process; circulating organisms directly infecting the arterial wall
how can syphilis cause aneurysms?
obliterative endarteritis is a characteristic of late-stage syphilis which has a predilection for small vessels which can result in ischemic injury of the aortic media and aneurysmal dilations - leads to aortic incompetence
pathological characteristics of AAA (3)
associated w atherosclerosis; atherosclerotic plaque in the intima compresses the underlying media; nutrient and waste diffusion from the vascular lumen to arterial wall is compromised; media undergoes degeneration and necrosis resulting in weakness/thinning
typical AAA patient
50+ male smoker w atherosclerosis
arteries usually involved in AAA
renal; superior/inferior mesenteric
consequences of AAA (5)
- rupture into peritoneal cavity/retroperitoneal tissues may result in fatal haemorrhages;
- obstruction og vessels leads to ischaemic injury of downstream tissues (e.g. leg, kidney);
- embolism from atheroma/mural thrombus
- impingement of adjacent structures
- presentation as an abdominal mass that simulates a tumour
what is an aortic dissection
when blood leaks out and separates the laminar planes of the media to form a blood-filled channel within the aortic wall