Cardiac Pathology 2: Arrhythmia, HTN, Cardiac Valve Dz, Cardiomyopathy, Pericardial Dz, Cardiac Tumors, Transplantation (Hillard) Flashcards
SA node damage by ischemic injury leads to what?
Sick sinus syndrome —> Bradycardia
Irritated atrial myocytes which depolarize independently and sporadically (atrial dilation) lead to variable transmission through which node and cause what?
AV node –> Atrial Fibrillation
What is the most common inherited arrhythmogenic disease?
Long QT syndrome
Patients w/ long QT syndrome commonly present how?
With stress-induced syncope or sudden cardiac death
What are 4 genes implicated in long QT syndrome?
- KCNQ1
- KCNH2
- SCN5A
- CAV3
Which inherited arrhythmogenic disease presents with syncope or SCD during rest or sleep or after large meals?
Brugada syndrome
What is the leading cause of SCD?
Coronary artery disease
The mechanism leading to SCD is most often due to what?
Lethal arrhythmia (i.e., asystole or ventricular fibrillation) arising from ischemia-induced myocardial irritability
80-90% of pt’s who suffer SCD but are successfully resuscitated do not show what?
Enzymatic or ECG evidence of myocardial necrosis
In structurally normal hearts, arrhythmias are more often due to what?
Mutations in ion channels that cause aberrant repolarization or depolarization
What are the 2 criteria for the diagnosis of systemic (left-sided) hypertensive heart disease?
1) LV hypertrophy (usually concentric) in the absence of other cardiovascular pathology
2) Clinical hx or pathologic evidence of HTN in other organs (i.e., kidney)
In Systemic (left-sided) HHD as the LV wall continues to increase in thickness what associated morphological changes occur?
Enlargement of?
↑ interstitial CT –> stiffness = impaired diastolic filling –> LEFT ATRIAL ENLARGEMENT
In many pt’s systemic HHD comes to attention due to what signs/sx’s?
- New atrial fibrillation induced by left atrial enlargement
- Progressive CHF
What are some of the potential long term complications associated with Systemic (left-sided) HHD?
Risk factors for what?
- Development of IHD
- Renal damage or cerebrovascular stroke
- Progressive CHF or SCD
Isolated pulmonary (right-sided) HHD (cor pulmonale) arises in the setting of what?
Pulmonary HTN
What is the most common cause of pulmomary HTN (cause of isolated right-sided HHD)?
Left-sided heart disease
What are the 2 typical causes of chronic cor pulmonale (right-sided HHD)?
- Chronic parenchymal disease (ie emphysema)
- Primary pulmonary HTN
Acute cor pulmonale (right-sided HHD) may follow what?
Massive pulmonary embolism
What are the morphological changes seen in the right-side of the heart in the setting of acute vs. chronic cor pulmonale?
- Acute = marked RV DILATION, but WITHOUT hypertrophy
- Chronic = RV wall THICKENS
What are 5 diseases affecting the pulmonary parenchyma which predispose to cor pulmonale?
- COPD
- Diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis
- Pneumoconioses
- CF
- Bronchiectasis
Stenosis is failure of a valve to _______ completely, which impedes _______ flow.
Stenosis is failure of a valve to open completely, which impedes forward flow.
Insufficiency is failure of a valve to _______ completely, which allows _______ flow.
Insufficiency is failure of a valve to close completely, which allows reverse flow.
Chronic stenosis may cause what type of overload hypertophy vs. chronic insufficiency?
- Chronic stenosis = cause pressure overload hypertrophy
- Chronic insufficiency = cause volume overload hypertrophy
*Both leading to CHF
What are the 4 most frequent causes of the major functional valvular lesions?
- Aortic stenosis
- Aortic insufficiency
- Mitral stenosis
- Mitral insufficiency
What is the major etiology causing Mitral Stenosis?
Postinflammatory scarring (rheumatic heart disease)
What are the 3 major etiologies causing Aortic Stenosis?
- Postinflammatiory scarring (rheumatic heart disease)
- Senile calcific aortic stenosis
- Calcification of congenitally deformed valve
What are 4 causes of abnormalities of leaflets and commissures leading to mitral regurgitation?
- Postinflammatory scarring
- Infective endocarditis
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Drugs (i.e., fen-phen)
What is the major etiology responsible for abnormalities of leaflets and commissures leading to Aortic Regurgitation?
Postinflammatory scarring (rheumatic heart disease)
Abnormalities of the tensor apparatus leading to Aortic Regurgitation may be caused by what 4 etiologies?
- Syphilitic aortitis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Marfan Syndrome
When is the typical onset for calcific aortic stenosis and what is it due to?
- Manifests at 60-80 yo
- “Wear and tear” assoc. w/ chronic HTN, hyperlipidemia, and inflammation
Why does calcific aortic stenosis of congenital bicuspid valves have an accelerated clinical course and come to clinical attention sooner than normal vavles?
Bicuspid valves incur greater mechanical stress
In calcific valvular degneration the affected valves contain what kind of cells, which do what?
Osteoblast-like cells –> synthesize bone matrix and promote deposition of Ca2+ salts
What is the morphological hallmark of nonrheumatic, calcific aortic stenosis (involving either tricuspid or bicuspid valves)?
Mounded calcified masses in aortic cusps, which protrude and prevent complete opening of valve
In contrast to rheumatic (and congenital) aortic stenosis, what are 2 major differences seen in nonrheumatic, calcific aortic stenosis?
- Commissural fusion is NOT usually seen
- Mitral valve = normal
What are 3 major sx’s that may mark the onset of cardiac decompensation associated w/ Calcific Aortic Stenosis?
- Angina
- CHF
- Syncope
Which ventricle is affected in Calcific Aortic Stenosis due to the increased pressure and what is seen?
Concentric LV hypertrophy
What is the prognosis and treatment for Calcific Aortic Stenosis?
- Poor prognosis
- Tx requires surgical valve replacement
SOB and cough 2’ to pulmonary congestion may be a feature of which type of calcific valvular degeneration?
Calcific Aortic Stenosis
Congenital bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) may have a genetic association due to loss of function mutations in which gene?
NOTCH1 on cr. 9
If present, which site on the cusp is a major site of calcific deposits in those with congenital bicuspid aortic valves (BAV)?
Midline raphe
Although bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is usually asymptomatic early in life, what are some of the late complications which may arise?
- Aortic stenosis and regurgitation
- Infective endocarditis
- Aortic dilation and/or dissection
As opposed to the predominantly cuspal involvement in aortic valve calcification, where do calcific deposits occur in the mitral valve?
In the fibrous annulus
What is the gross morphology of the calcific deposits in mitral annular calcification?
Irregular, stony hard, occassionaly ulcerated nodules
Calcific nodules seen in mitral annular calcification may provide a site for what complications?
Pt’s are at greater risk for what?
- Thrombus formation, these pt’s have ↑ risk of embolic stroke
- Infective endocarditis
Mitral annular calcification is most common in what sex and at what age?
Also in pt’s with what underlying complication?
- Women >60 yo
- Pt’s w/ mitral valve prolapse
Mitral valve prolapse has a higher incidence in what gender?
Females (7:1)
Mitral Valve Prolapse is often discovered incidentally by hearing what during ausculation?
Mid systolic click sometimes followed by mid-to-late systolic murmur
What occurs to the valve leaflets in Mitral Valve Prolapse?
“Floppy” leaflets balloon back into the LA during systole
Which heritable disorder of CT is associated with Mitral Valve Prolapse?
Marfan Syndrome
The leaflets in Mitral Valve Prolapse become thickened and rubbery due to what?
Proteoglycan deposits (myxomatous degeneration) and elastic fiber disruption
The key histo change in the tissue seen in Mitral Valve Prolapse is thickening of which layer and deposition of what?
Spongiosa layer w/ deposition of mucoid (myxomatous) material
2’ changes reflecting the stresses and tissue injury incident to the billowing leaflets in mitral valve prolapse include thicking of what 3 structures?
- Fibrous thickening of valve leaflets
- Linear fibrous thickening of LV endocardial surface
- Thickening of the mural endocardium of the LV or LA
Majority of patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse are asymptomatic, but a small minority may develop which 4 serious complications?
- Infective endocarditis
- Mitral insufficiency
- Stroke or thromboembolism
- Arrhythmias
How can the diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse be made?
- Auscultation
- Confirmed w/ Echocardiography
What is the most common cause for mitral valve surgery in the US?
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Rheumatic heart disease is virtually the only cause of what cardiac disorder?
Mitral Stenosis
The pathogenesis of Rheumatic Fever involves host immune responses to what?
Streptococcal M proteins cross reacting with cardiac (among other) self-antigens
What are the distinctive lesions found in the heart during acute RF, and what do these lesions consist of?
- Aschoff bodies
- Consisting of: T lymphocytes, plasma cells, and plump activated macrophages called Anitschkow cells
Which cells are pathognomonic for RF?
Anitschkow cells (aka caterpillar cells)
During acute RF, diffuse inflammation and Aschoff bodies may be found in which layers of the heart, resulting in?
Pericarditis, myocarditis, or endocarditis = Pancarditis
Inflammation of the endocardium and the left-sides valves seen in acute RF results in what type of necrosis?
What is seen overlying these necrotic foci?
- Fibrinoid necrosis within the cusps of tendinous cords
- Overlying is vegetations called verrucae
Subendothelial lesions seen in acute RF can induce irregular thickenings in the left atrium, known as what?
MacCallum plaques
What are the cardinal anatomic changes seen in the leaflet and tendinous cords of the mitral valve with chronic RHD?
- Leaflet thickening + commissural fusion and shortening
- Thickening and fusion of the tendinous cords
- Results in MITRAL STENOSIS
In rheumatic mitral stenosis, calcification and fibrous bridging across the valvular commissures create a stenoses named what?
Fish mouth or “buttonhole” stenoses
With tight mitral stenosis seen in RHD what compensatory changes occur in the left atrium and it may harbor what?
Left atrium DILATES and may harbor mural thrombi that can embolize
With chronic RHD, long-standing congestive changes in the lungs may induce what changes and over time lead to hypertrophy of what?
Pulmonary vascular and parenchymal changes; over time lead to right ventricular hypertrophy
What is the JONES criteria for establishing diagnosis of RF?
- J = joints; migratory polyarthritis of large joints
- O = heart; pancarditis
- N = nodules; subcutaneous
- E = erythema marginatum
- S = sydenham chorea (involuntary rapid, purposless movements)
Acute RF appears how soon after a group A strep infection and most often in which pt population?
- 10 days to 6 weeks
- Most often in children btw ages 5-15
Which 2 antibodies to streptococcal enzymes may be detected in the sera of pt with RF?
- Anti-streptolysin O
- Anti-DNase B
What are the 2 predominant clinical manifestations and features of each in RF?
Which is more common in affected adults?
- Carditis = pericardial friction rubs, tachycardia, and arrhythmias
- Migratory polyarthritis = more common adults
After an initial attack of RF there is an increased vulnerability to what?
Reactivation of the dz w/ subsequent pharyngeal infections and the same manifestations are likely to appear
Pt’s with chronic RHD are may potentially suffer from what 3 consequences?
1) Atrial Fibrillation
2) Thromboembolic complications
3) Infective endocarditis
Infective endocarditis is an infection of valves and endocardium, characterized by the formation of what hallmark feature?
Vegetations composed of thrombotic debris and organisms, associated with underying tissue destruction
How does acute infective endocarditis differ from subacute infective endocarditis in the type of organism involved?
- Acute IE = infection by highly virulent bacteria (i.e., S. aureus)
- -* Subacute IE = infection w/ lower virulence bacteria (i.e., Viridians strep)
How does the treatment for acute infective endocarditis differ from subacute?
- Acute requires surgery in addition to Abx
- Subacute can be cured w/ Abx alone
What are 5 predisposing conditions which increase the risk of developing infective endocarditis?
- RH
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Degenerative calcific valvular stenosis
- Bicuspid aortic valves (w/ or w/o calcification)
- Artificial (prosthetic) valves
Which organism is most often responsible for infective endocarditis of native but previously damaged or abnormal valves?
Streptococcus viridians
Which bacteria is responsible for a majority of the mortality associated with infective endocarditis and is common in IV drug abusers?
S. aureus
Which bacteria is most often the culprit of infectious endocarditis in those with prosthetic valves?
Coagulase-neg. staph (S. epidermidis)
Which organisms make up the HACEK group which are sometimes implicated in infective endocarditis?
- Hemophilus
- Actinobacillus
- Cardiobacterium
- Eikenella
- Kingella
The most important among the risk factors for infective endocarditis are those that can cause microorganisms to do what?
Seeding into blood stream (bacteremia or fungemia) –> infections elsewhere, dental/surgical procedures, contaminated needles
Which valves are most commonly infected during infective endocarditis?
LEFT sided = Aortic and Mitral