Arrhythmias, Hypertensive heart dz, Valvular heart dz Flashcards
What is the most common cause of rhythm DOs?
Ischemic injury
Name and describe some rhythm DOs.
Sick sinus syndrome = SA node damaged –> bradycardia
Atrial fibrillation = myocytes depolarize independently and sporadically (atrial dilation) with variable transmission thru AV node
Heart Block = dysfunctional AV node
- 1st degree = prolonged PR interval
- 2nd degree = intermittent transmission
- 3rd degree = complete failure
What is the buzz word for atrial fibrillation?
Irregular irregular HR
Why would you get arrhythmias?
Abnormalities in gap junction structure or spatial relationship
-ischemic heart dz, dilated cardiomyopathies, myocyte hypertrophy, inflammation, amyloid, etc.
Describe the genetics behind rhythm DOs.
Hereditary
Autosomal dominant
Primary electrical DOs, dx thru genetic testing
What are channelopathies?
Mutations in genes that are required for NL ion channel function
Can be assoc with skeletal muscle DOs and diabetes; most common isolated to heart
What is the most common inherited arrhythmogenic Dz? Describe it. What are some others?
Long QT syndrome
- assoc with excessive repolarization
- seen in swimmers
- affects K+ and Na+ channels
Short QT syndrom
Brugada syndrome
CPVT syndrome
What is sudden cardiac death (SCD)?
Unexpected death form cardiac cause, either
- without sx
- within 1-24 hrs of sx onset
80-90% of successively resuscitated pts show NO lab or ECG changes
What Dz precipitates SCD in 80-90% of cases?
Coronary artery dz
- usually >75% stenosis or one or more of the 3 main coronary arteries
- SCD often first manifestation of IHD
- healed remote MIs seen in about 40%
What are some other causes of SCD?
Cardiomyopathies
Myocarditis
Congenital abnormalities of the conduction system
Myocardial hypertrophy
What is SCD pathogenesis often due to?
Fatal arrhythmia most often arising from ischemia-induced myocardial irritability
What is left-sided (systemic) hypertensive heart dz (HHD)?
Pressure overload results in left ventricular hypertrophy (LHV)
LV wall is concentrically thickened (>1.5cm, weight >500gm)
What conditions eventually results from left-sided HHD?
Diastolic dysfunction can result in left atrial enlargement
Leads to AFIB
May also lead to CHF, as is a risk factor for SCD
How does right-sided (pulmonary) HHD arise? What about acute cor pulmonale?
Arises in setting of pulmonary HTN
Acute cor pulmonale may arise from a large pulmonary embolus
-marked dilation of RV without hypertrophy
What is the most common cause of pulmonary HTN leading to right-sided HHD?
Left-sided heart dz
Why can valvular dz come into clinical attention?
Stenosis
Insufficiency (regurgitation or incompetence)
What is functional regurgitation?
Used to describe the incompetence of a valve stemming from an abnormality in one of its support structures
Functional mitral valve regurgitation is common and clinically important in IHD and dilated cardiomyopathy
Valvular dz present with stenosis and/or insufficiency. Describe both.
Stenosis = valve doesn’t open completely, occurs chronically
- impedes forward flow
- chronic stenosis may cause PRESSURE overload hypertrophy —> CHF
Insufficiency = valve doesn’t close completely, occurs acutely or chronically
- allows reverse flow
- chronic insufficiency may cause VOLUME overload hypertrophy —> CHF
What is the common cause of mitral valve stenosis?
Postinflammatory scarring = rheumatic heart dz
What is the common cause of Aortic stenosis? What are some others?
Calcification of congenitally deformed valve
Postinflammatory scarring due to RHD
Senile calcific aortic stenosis
What is the common cause of Mitral regurgitation? What are some others?
Mitral valve prolapse
Abnormalities of leaflets/commissures (postinflamm scarring, infective endocarditis, drugs)
Abnormalities of tensor apparatus (rupture of papillary muscle/chordae tendinae)
Abnormalities of LV/Annulus (LV enlargement, calcification fo mitral ring)
What is the common cause of Aortic regurgitation? What are some others?
Aortic insufficiency = dilation of ascending aorta (secondary to HTN/aging)
Rheumatic heart dz Degenerative aortic dilation Syphilic aortitis Marfan syndrome Ankylosing spondylitis
What is the most common valve abnormality? When does it manifest? What is it associated with?
Calcific aortic stenosis
Prevalence increases with age (at around 60-80 yrs)
Wear and tear associated with chronic HTN, hyperlipidemia, inflammation
How does the valve appear with calcific aortic stenosis?
Bicuspid valve (should be 3) = shows accelerated course (increase in mechanical stress)
Bicuspid clinical sx 1-2 decades earlier than normal valve
Affected valves contain osteoblast-like cells, which deposit on osteoid-like substance –> ossifies
Mounded calcification in cusps prevent complete opening of the valve