Atheroma 2 Flashcards
Describe the process of atheroma formation in the arteries.
Inflammatory cells and lipids penetrate the artery wall, leading to the formation of atheromatous plaques with macrophages, T-lymphocytes, and lipid core.
What are the features of chronic inflammatory process in response to artery injury?
Inflammatory reaction followed by tissue repair, proliferation of intimal smooth muscles, synthesis of collagen, elastin, and mucopolysaccharide.
How do growth factors contribute to atheroma development?
Growth factors like PDGF cause smooth muscle proliferation, collagen synthesis, and formation of fibers around the lipid core.
Define the clinical manifestations of atheroma.
Clinical manifestations range from benign to life-threatening, often presenting as lumen narrowing, plaque stenosis, and ischemia.
Describe the reversible tissue ischemia caused by atheroma.
Critical reduction in blood flow due to plaque stenosis can lead to insufficient oxygen delivery, causing reversible tissue ischemia.
What is stable angina and how is it related to atheroma?
Stable angina occurs when atheromatous plaque narrows a coronary artery, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle, leading to chest pain during exertion.
Describe unstable angina.
Unstable angina is a condition where ischemic pain occurs at rest without exertion, often due to severe stenosis in the arteries.
Define intermittent claudication.
Intermittent claudication is pain experienced while walking a certain distance due to reduced blood flow and ischemia in the arteries, commonly seen in peripheral arterial disease.
How does atherothrombotic occlusion lead to myocardial infarction?
Atherothrombotic occlusion can cause insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle, leading to myocardial infarction due to thrombotic blockage in the arteries.
Do you get irreversible ischemia with total occlusion of blood supply?
Yes, total occlusion of blood supply can lead to irreversible ischemia, resulting in tissue necrosis or infarction.
Describe the process of embolization in arterial beds.
Embolization occurs when small thrombosed fragments detach from atheromatous arteries and travel through the bloodstream to block distal arteries.
How does renal artery stenosis lead to renal atrophy?
Renal artery stenosis can cause insufficient blood flow to the kidneys, leading to renal atrophy due to inadequate oxygen and nutrient supply.
Describe the process of embolic occlusion in small vessels as mentioned in the content.
It involves blockage of small vessels by emboli, leading to small infarcts in organs.
What are the potential consequences of a large ulcerating clot in the aorta according to the content?
It can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias or embolization of cholesterol and lipid-rich fragments to various organs.
Define an atheromatous abdominal aortic aneurysm based on the content.
It is an abnormal dilation of the abdominal aorta caused by weakening of the vessel wall due to lipid-related inflammatory activity in the plaque.
How does a ruptured atheromatous abdominal aortic aneurysm manifest in terms of symptoms and risks?
It can present with sudden rupture, massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage, and high mortality, especially in aneurysms larger than 5cm in diameter.
Describe the process of thrombus formation within an aortic aneurysm as explained in the content.
Thrombus forms within the weakened aortic aneurysm, and fragments of the thrombus can embolize to other parts of the body.
Explain the significance of vulnerable atheromatous plaques in the context of myocardial infarction.
These plaques have distinct morphological features and are prone to rupture, leading to thrombosis and potentially causing myocardial infarction.
Describe the characteristics of a vulnerable thrombosis plaque.
A vulnerable thrombosis plaque typically has thin fibers cap, a large lipid core, and prominent inflammation.
What are some preventative measures for atheroma?
Preventative measures for atheroma include stopping smoking, controlling high blood pressure, weight loss if needed, regular exercise, and dietary modifications.
Define thrombotic complications in the context of atheroma.
Thrombotic complications refer to the high risk of developing blood clots in the arteries due to atheroma.
How does inflammation contribute to the risk of plaque rupture in atheroma?
Inflammation in atheroma causes degradation and weakening of the plaque, leading to an increased risk of plaque rupture.
Describe the characteristics of highly stenotic plaques in atheroma.
Highly stenotic plaques in atheroma often have a large fibrocalcific component and little inflammation, placing them at the opposite end of the vulnerability spectrum.
