Cardiac Pathology 1 Flashcards
Myocardial and chamber changes with aging
- Decreased LV size
- Increased epicardial fat
- Lipofuscin buildup in myocytes, basophilic degeneration
- Fewer myocytes, increased collagen (STIFF)
What is lipofuscin? Pathologic?
Normal breakdown product stored in cells
- No known damage to cell
Valvular changes with aging
- Annular calcification (L side valves)
- Fibrous thickening
- Mitral valve buckling toward L atrium –> increased atrial size
- Lambl excrescences
What are lambl excrescences? Pathologic?
Frond-like papillary projections off of cusps
- Pathologic IF abnormally large and embolize
Heart vascular changes with aging
- Coronary atherosclerosis
- Stiffening of aorta
CHF
Heart can’t pump to meet peripheral demand with normal filling pressure
2 causes (general) of CHF
Systolic dysfunction - loss of contractility of myocytes
Diastolic dysfunction - loss of filling ventricles in diastole
3 causes of cardiac hypertrophy
- Pressure overload (HTN)
- Volume overload
- Sustained beta-adrenergic stimulation
Pathologic finding in pressure overload hypertrophy
Is this a systolic or diastolic dysfunction?
THICKER myocytes, concentric ventricular wall thickening
Diastolic (less filling space)
Pathologic finding in volume overload hypertrophy
Is this a systolic or diastolic dysfunction?
ELONGATED myocytes, ventricular dilation w/ thinner wall
Systolic (less contractility)
Potential danger in cardiac hypertrophy?
Lack of adequate blood supply to myocytes –> ischemia
Describe the pathway by which hypertrophy or dilation occurs
Pressure/volume overload –> increased work –> increased wall stress –> cell stretch –> hypertrophy/dilation
3 RESULTS of cardiac dysfunction (systolic or diastolic)
- Heart failure
- Arrhythmias
- Neurohumoral stimulation
Causes of L-sided heart failure (4)
- Myocardial ischemia (atherosclerosis or hypertrophy)
- Hypertension
- L-side valvular disease (aortic or mitral)
- 1º myocardial disease
Clinical effects (seen in clinic) in L-sided failure are DUE TO what?
- Congestion of pulmonary circulation
- Decreased tissue perfusion
Most common clinical symptoms of L-sided failure
Cough, dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Potential morphologic changes in L-sided heart failure
- LVH
- L atrial dilation (via L ventricular failure)
A patient has L-sided heart failure via chronic systemic HTN. On imaging, the L atrium is dilated. What are the clinical dangers of this finding?
- A. fib –> thrombus –> embolism
- Stasis –> thrombus –> embolism
Lab finding in L-sided heart failure (why?)
- Pre-renal azotemia (decreased renal perfusion)
A patient w/ L-sided heart failure is subject to what neurologic damage?
Hypoxic encephalopathy (decreased brain perfusion)
MOST COMMON cause of R-sided heart failure
L-sided heart failure
Causes of isolated R-sided heart failure
ANY pulmonary hypertension
- Parenchymal lung disease - 1º Pulmonary HTN - Pulmonary vasoconstriction
Systemic findings in R-sided heart failure (5)
Venous congestion…
- Nutmeg liver (partly congested, partly not) - Splenomegaly (congestion) - Body space effusions (ascites, pleural, pericardial) - Peripheral (ANKLE) edema - Renal congestion
General cause of ischemic heart disease
Decreased blood flow to coronary arteries –> myocardium
Potential RESULTS of ischemic heart disease
- M.I.
- Angina pectoris
- Heart failure
- Sudden cardiac death (fatal arrhythmia)