Cardiovascular Pathology Flashcards
How can infectious agents enter the CNS?
a) Hematogenous spread (most common, usually arterial route)
b) Direct implantation (most often is traumatic. Rare. Can be congenital)
c) Local extension (secondary to established infections eg) mastoid, frontal sinus, infected tooth)
d) Along peripheral nerves (usually viruses eg Rabies, Herpes Zoster)
What are 3 classifications of Meningitis?
Acute Pyogenic (usually bacterial meningitis)
Aseptic (viral meningitis)
Chronic (Myobacterium TB, cryptococcus)
Common pathogens of meningitis and age…
a) 0-4 weeks
b) 4-12 weeks
c) 3m-18yrs
d) 18yrs+
a) Strep. agglactiae, E coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus
b) Strep. agglactiaea, E coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Strep. pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitides
c) H. influenzae, N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae
d) N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae
CSF abnormalities in Meningitis…
a) Bacterial
b) Viral
c) TB
a) (cloudy). High protein, low glucose
b) (clear) Normal protein & glucose
c) (clear) High protein, low glucose
Some features of viral meningitis?
What does the CSF show?
Mainly affects children & young adults
Milder signs & symptoms (usually full recovery)
CSF shows raised lymphocyte count.
Main cause: enteroviruses (coxsackie, polio)
Some features of Tuberculous meningitis?
High freq of complications (cranial nerve palsy)
CSF shows raised lymphocytic response, but polymorphs also present.
What is Encephalitis and what is the most common cause?
An acute inflammatory process affecting the brain parenchyma.
Viral infection is most common cause
Some causes of Encephalitis?
Herpes virus (most common- causes severe haemorrhagic encephalitis affecting temporal lobes) Adenoviruses Influenza A Enteroviruses, Poliovirus MMR viruses Rabies
What is the link between Encephalitis & Rabies?
Rabies causes acute, progressive viral encephalitis.
What are the clinical phases of rabies?
Prodromal Phase
Furious Phase
Dumb Phase
Coma Phase
What is a brain abscess?
It is a focal suppurative process within the brain parenchyma (pus in the substance of the brain)
What are some of the bacteria responsible for a brain abscess?
(they are often mixed- polymicrobial)
- Streptococci (60-70%)
- Staph aureus (most common in abscesses after trauma/ surgery)
- Anaerobes
- Gram negative enteric bacteria
Main antibiotic treatments of CNS infections?
Ampicillin, Penicillin, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime, Metronidazole (all achieve therapeutic concentrations in intracranial pus).
(Neurosyphillis)
Early symptomatic forms cause what?
Late symptomatic forms cause what?
Early: acute meningitis, meningovascular
Late: General paresis, Tabes dorsalis
Clinical syndrome resulting from pressure on the heart due to a build-up of fluid in the pericardial space?
Cardiac Tamponade
Gram positive cocci that grown in pairs and is a common cause of meningitis?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
A cause of secondary hypertension, where there is increased levels of catecholamines in the blood?
Pheochromocytoma
An effective treatment for giant cell arteritis?
Corticosteroids
Most common congenital heart disease?
Ventricular Septal Defect
Type of cardiomyopathy that is due to mutations in the sarcomere gene?
Hypertrophic
The most common valve disorder in rheumatic heart disease?
Mitral Stenosis
What is the aetiology of Infective Endocarditis (in order of commonness)?
Staphylococci, Streptococci, Enterococci
Some clinical presentations of Infective Endocarditis?
Fever, Splinter haemorrhages, Osler nodes, Janeway lesions, Roth Spots
Aetiology of a Mycotic Aneurysm?
Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcis spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E coli
Common aetiologies of Infected DVT?
S. aureus, streptococci, and anaerobes
Features of peripheral vascular disease?
Narrowing of blood vessels that restricts blood flow (wall thickening by atheroma/ thrombosis- VIRCHOW’S TRIAD)
Progressive disease leading to increasing levels of tissue hypoxia (as decreased perfusion).
Asymptomatic –> Intermittent Claudication –> Critical Limb ischaemia