Cardiac Path 6 (RHD/Endocarditis) Flashcards
What condition?
- A systemic, immunologically mediated disease related to a Streptococcal infection
- A delayed non-suppurative sequelae to an URI with Group A. beta-hemolytic Streptococcus.
Acute Rheumatic Fever
What condition?
Typically occurs ~2 weeks after a Strept throat infection.
Acute Rheumatic Fever
The following describes the immune rxn to which dz:
- The immune response elicited by the Strep antigens provides the body w/ a defense mechanism against Strept. Pyogenes
- @ the same time, the immune rxn damages the connective tissue of the heart and several other organs and tissues.
- The antibodies against the Strept antigens may cross-react with similar antigens found in the heart.
Acute Rheumatic fever
The following antibodies develop in all pts w/ ________:
Antibodies to the Streptococcal antigen O, called Antistreptolysin O (ASLO or ASO)
Rheumatic Fever
The following describes the susceptibility of which condition?
- Principally a disease of children (median age: 9-11y/o)
- can occur in adults
- No differences in susceptibility related to sex, race, or ethnicity
- Present rate in the U.S.= ~2 per 100,000
Acute Rheumatic Fever
Is Acute Rheumatic fever still prevalent in the US today?
in first 1/2 of 20th century- RF was almost epidemic in US but has decreased dramatically since due to abx and improved socioeconomic conditions
Is Acute Rheumatic fever still prevalent in the world today?
Still the leading cause of death of heart dz in ppl b/w 5-25 years worldwide
What disease involves the following
- the heart
- the joints
- subcutaneous CT of the skin
- blood vessels
- occasionally the brain
Rheumatic Heart Disease
What is a major feature and complication of Acute Rheumatic Fever?
Rheumatic Heart Disease
What is the chief cause of heart disease in persons under the age of 50 still today?
Rheumatic Heart Disease
The pathology of what disease is characterized by non-bacterial, sterile, inflammatory lesions and granulomas throughout the connective tissue of the body.
Rheumatic Heart Disease
What is the characteristic heart pathology in RHD?
RHD causes a Pancarditis, involving all three layers of the heart.
- Pericarditis
- Myocarditis
- Endocarditis
Which disease?
Recognized clinically by a pericardial friction rub and in severe cases can lead to an adhesive pericarditis.
Rheumatic Pericarditis
(“Bread and Butter” Pericarditis)
The following is pathology of which disease?
- Myocarditis:
- Usually heart is dilated
- Aschoff Bodies (aggregates of lymphocytes and macrophages around a central zone of fibrinoid necrosis) w/in the myocardium–> w/ time it assumes a granulomatous appearance–> eventually replaced by a scar
Rheumatic heart disease
Which pathology of RHD is responsible for the majority of deaths in the acute phase due to conduction system fibrosis.
Myocarditis
The following is pathology of what conditon?
- Endocarditis: the most prominent changes are seen on the valves of the left heart.
* This valvulitis begins with inflammation of the valve surfaces, leading to an ulceration.
Pathology of RHD:
What is characteristic about the heart valve ulcerations with time?
***This was a prior board question***
The surface defects are covered with fibrin thrombi, which progressively grow and assume the form of larger vegetations along the lines of closure of the valve leaflets.
Characteristics about the ____________ of RHD:
- There are no bacteria within the ___________
- Ongoing inflammation inside the valves leads to destruction, followed by fibrous scarring–> causes valve deformities.
- The chordae tendinae inserting into the mitral valve are typically shortened and thickened and becomes fused to one another (“Fish-Mouth Stenosis”)
Vegetations
Which side of the heart is most affected by RHD?
The left