Age-Related Changes of the Heart

Question 1

What is a general, descriptive summary of the outcome of changes that occur in the heart with age?

Answer 1

decreased compliance/elasticity

Question 2

What changes are seen in the the valve with age?

What complications can this cause?

Answer 2

Fibrotic changes:

prolapse -> atrial dilation -> a-fib

-expecially in mitral valve

Calcification:

-especially in aotric valve -> aortic stenosis

Lambl excrescences:

-whisker-like projections from valve

Question 3

What changes are seen in the chambers with age?

What complications can this cause?

Answer 3

HTN -> decreased left ventricular size (LVH) -> decreased cardiac output

atrial dilation -> a-fib

Question 4

What changes are seen in the vessels with age?

What complications can this cause?

Answer 4

atherosclerosis -> stenosis

• MI
• aortic dissection

Question 5

What histologic changes are seen in the the heart with age?

Answer 5

• increased adiposity
• myocyte loss

Accumulations:

• lipofuscin (non-pathoogic)
• mucin -> basophilic degeneration (non-pathoogic)
• amyloid (transthyretin) -> senile cardiac amyloidosis -> heart failure