Chapter 11 - Blood vessels Flashcards
Generic term for arterial wall thickening and loss of elasticity
Arteriosclerosis
Most frequent form of arteriosclerosis. Underlies the pathogenesis of coronary, cerebral and peripheral vascular disease
Atherosclerosis
3 most important causes of endothelial dysfunction
- haemodynamic disturbance
- hypercholesterolaemia
- inflammation
Altered form of LDL
Associated with coronary and cerebrovascular disease risk; independent of total cholesterol or LDL levels
Lipoprotein a
Dynamic lesions consisting of dysfunctional endothelial cells, proliferating SMCs and admixed T lymphocytes and macrophages
Atheromas
What are the constituents of the atherosclerotic plaque? (name 6)
- SMCs
- Inflammatory cells (Macrophages, T lymphocytes)
- ECM (collagen, elastic fibres, proteoglycans)
- Lipids
- Necrotic debris
- Calcifications (in later stage plaques)
Differences between stable and unstable plaques?
Stable plaques tend to have dense fibrous cap, minimal lipid accumulation and little inflammation
Unstable plaques have thin caps, large lipid cores and relatively dense inflammatory infiltrates
What types of fungi are known to cause arteritis?
Aspergillus and Mucor species
What infection is associated with approx ⅓ cases of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN)?
Chronic Hepatitis B
What is the main clinical significance of Kawasaki disease?
Coronary artery involvement which can → aneurysms that rupture or thrombose
Form of vasculitis associated with an eosinophilic inflitrate?
Churg-Strauss (Allergic granulomatosis and angiitis)
What are the 2 main antibodies implicated in non-infectious vasculitis?
ANCAs
Anti-EC antibodies
Type of vasculitis occuring almost exclusively in cigarette smokers?
Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger disease)
Most common 2 sites for formation of abdominal aneurysms
Abdominal aorta
Common iliac arteries
2 most important causes of aortic aneurysms
- Atherosclerosis
- HTN
