Atheroma, Thrombosis & Embolism Flashcards
Define atherosclerosis
- Degeneration of arterial walls characterised by fibrosis, lipid deposition, inflammation limiting blood circulation & predisposes to thrombosis
- Primary pathological abnormality of arterial thrombosis
Which blood vessels are commonly affected by atherosclerosis?
- Bifurcations (turbulent flow)
- Abdominal aorta
- Coronary arteries
- Popliteal arteries
- Carotid vessels
- Circle of Willis
What are risk factors for atherosclerosis?
Non-modifiable= Age, male, FH, genetic Modifiable= Smoking, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia/cholestrolaemia, CRP, physical inactivity
What are the causes and the first step in atherosclerosis?
- Haemodynamic injury, chemicals, irradiation, immune complex deposition
- First step= endothelial injury
What is the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis?
- Due to chronic injury & repair of endothelium
- Prescence of hyperlipidaemia lipid will accumulate in inner vessel (intima)
- Monocytes migrate into intima & ingest lipid = foam cells
- Stage known as fatty streak
- Foam cells secrete chemokines attracting more monocytes, lymphocytes & s.muscle cells
- S.muscle proliferate & secrete connective tissue
- Atherosclerotic plaque formed from fat, extracellular material, leukocytes & S.muscle
What are the components of an atheromatous plaque?
-Fibrous cap (S.muscle, marophages, foam cells, lymphocytes, collagen, elastin)
-Necrotic centre (Cell debris, cholesterol crystals, Ca & foam cells)
Adhered to media
What sequences can follow atherosclerosis?
- Occlusion
- Weakening of vessel walls (aneurysm formation)
- Erosion (thrombosis formation)
What is thrombosis and how is this different to a clot?
- Solidification of blood contents formed in the vessel during life
- Different in pathogenesis & morphology
How is a clot different from a thrombus?
C= Stagnant blood, enzymatic process, elastic, adopts shape of vessel
T=Within body during life, firm, dependant on platelets
What are platelets?
-Fragments of megakaryocytes in bone marrow
-Circulate in bloodstream
Bind to collagen exposed by endothelial damage & activate
-Secrete: a granules (PDGF, fibronectin,fibrinogen) dense granules (chemotactic chemicals)
What are the components of Virchow’s triad?
- For platelet adhesion & thrombus formation
- Change in intimal surface of the vessel (damage)
- Blood constituents (hypercoagulability)
- Pattern of blood flow (stasis)
Describe cardiac thrombi
- Known as mural thrombi
- Occur over areas of endomyocardial injury (MI, myocarditis)
- Can occur with arrhythmias & cardiomyopathy
What are possible consequences of thrombosis?
- Occlusion of vessel
- Resolution
- Incorporation into vessel wall
- Recanalisation
- Embolisation
What is an embolus?
A mass of material in the vascular system able to lodge in a vessel and block it
- may be endo/exogenous
- May be solid/liquid/gas
What is the most common type of emboli?
Pulmonary emboli
common cause of hospital morbidity& mortality
Risk factors=genetic & acquired