Cardiac causes of SOB: Heart failure Flashcards
A 78-year-old woman is admitted with heart failure. The underlying cause is determined to be aortic stenosis. Which sign is most likely to be present? A. Pleural effusion on chest x-ray
B. Raised jugular venous pressure (JVP)
C. Bilateral pedal oedema
D. Bibasal crepitations
E. Atrial fibrillation
D. Bibasal crepitations
Aortic stenosis will first result in left ventricular failure as a result of increased ventricular pressure as the ventricle tries to pump blood across a narrowed valve. Initially the pressure load will cause a backlog of blood into the lungs, resulting in pulmonary oedema – the first sign of which will be bibasal crepitations (D) before enough fluid accumulates as pleural effusions visible on chest x-ray (A). Earlier signs of pulmonary oedema include upper lobe blood diversion and Kerley B lines as fluid infiltrates the interstitium. If the backlog continues back into the right heart, eventually signs of right-sided heart failure will be evident including raised JVP (B) and bilateral pedal oedema (C). Atrial fibrillation (E) may coexist with aortic stenosis, however it is more commonly associated as a result of mitral stenosis as the enlarged atrium disrupts the normal electrical pathways.
A 60-year-old man presents to his GP with gradually increasing fatigue and some exertional dyspnoea. Blood pressure is 118/74mmHg and pulse rate is 81/minute. There are no abnormal physical findings and on echocardiography the ejection fraction is 0.47. However, the clinical impression remains one of early heart failure. Which of the following circulating biomarkers would lend support to that conclusion? A. Atrial natriuretic peptide B. Brain natriuretic peptide C. Endothelin D. Noradrenaline E. Adrenomedullin
B. Brain natriuretic peptide
Brain natriuretic peptide (B) is considered to have the greatest power as a diagnostic biomarker of the given answer options. In established heart failure, high levels of endothelin (C) and noradernaline (D) in particular are associated with poor prognosis. All of the given answers, including atrial natriuretic peptide (A) and adrenomedullin (E), may be increased in heart failure.
A 55-year-old male presents with increasing exertional dyspnoea, fatigue, weight loss and bone pain. Blood results reveal elevated calcium levels and normocytic anaemia. He is treated for heart failure. What is the underlying cause for his heart failure?A. HyperthyroidismB. MalignancyC. Thiamine deficiencyD. MeningitisE. Paget’s disease of the bone
B. Malignancy
Multiple Myeloma: Symptoms and presentation are consistent with malignancy. C – hypercalcaemia, R- renal failure, A-anaemia, B- bone lesions. Hence weight loss, bone pain, anaemia. Hyperthyroidism does cause weight loss but would not explain other symptoms
Thiamine deficiency – no other signs, history of alcoholism, peripheral neuropathy
Menigitis – no signs of infection
Paget’s disease – calcium is unaffected, high ALP
How can the aetiology/risk factors of heart failure be classified
- Heart valves
- Heart muscle (pump failure)
- Systemic
- Drugs
LHF: give examples of heart valve malfunctions
- aortic valve disease (AR - regurg, AS - stenosis)
2. Mitral regurgitation
How can the aetiology/risk factors of left heart failure be classified
- Heart valves
- Heart muscle (pump failure)
- Systemic
- Drugs
LHF: give example of pump (heart muscle) failure
- ischaemic heart disease
- MI
- cardiomyopathy e.g. hypertrophic (HOCM), dilated, restrictive
- myocarditis
- arrhythmias e.g. AF
How can the aetiology/risk factors of right heart failure be classified
- Lungs
- Heart valves
- Left heart failure
What is Cor Pulmonale
Enlargement and failure of the right ventricle due to increased pressure in the lungs/vascular resistance
RHF: give examples of lung pathologies
- pulmonary hypertension
- pulmonary embolus
- pulmonary valve disease
- chronic lung disease e.g. ILD, pulmonary fibrosis, CF
RHF: give examples of heart valve malfunctions
- tricuspid regurgitation
2. pulmonary valve disease
Give examples of high output states that can put strain on the heart causing heart failure
- AV malformations: abnormal connection between arteries anf veins
- Malignancy e.g. multiple myeloma
- Endocrine e.g. hyperthyroidism
- Pregnancy
- Nutritional e.g. vitamin B1/thiamine deficiency (beriberi)
- GI/Renal e.g. cirrhosis of the liver
- Anaemia
- Sepsis
Give examples of high output states that can put strain on the heart causing heart failure
NAP MEALS 1. Nutritional e.g. vitamin B1/thiamine deficiency (beriberi AV malformations: abnormal connection between arteries and veins 2. Anaemia 3. Pregnancy 4. Pregnancy 5. Malignancy e.g. multiple myeloma 6. Endocrine e.g. hyperthyroidism 7. Liver cirrhosis 8. Sepsis
Give examples of high output states that can put strain on the heart causing heart failure
NAP MEALS 1. Nutritional e.g. vitamin B1/thiamine deficiency (beriberi AV malformations: abnormal connection between arteries and veins 2. Anaemia 3. Pregnancy 4. Pregnancy 5. Malignancy e.g. multiple myeloma 6. Endocrine e.g. hyperthyroidism 7. Liver cirrhosis 8. Sepsis
What are the risk factors for heart failure
- older men
- PMH of heart disease - MI is the strongest risk factor
- diabetes
- family history of heart disease
- dyslipidaemia
- Drug abuse
What are the risk factors for heart failure
- older men
- PMH of heart disease - MI is the strongest risk factor
- diabetes
- family history of heart disease
- dyslipidaemia
- Drug abuse
Describe the epidemiology of heart failure
10% of >65 years olds, 1-3% general population