Chronic Inflammation 1 Flashcards
What is chronic inflammation?
Inflammatory process where the cell population is mainly lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells.
It features tissue or organ damage (necrosis) and loss of function.
It is long term.
It involves healing and repair with granulation tissue and fibrosis.
May follow on from acute inflammation but also arises as a primary pathology.
What are the clinical presentations of chronic inflammation?
There is no specific site of pain.
Malaise and weight loss such as tuberculosis which has a systemic effect.
Loss of function like autoimmune thyroiditis which causes hypothyroidism. Leprosy results in a loss of sensation. Crohn’s disease is GI tract ulceration and fibrosis which leads to pain, diarrhoea and gut obstruction.
What is the mechanism for granulation tissue?
Capillaries grow into inflammatory mass so plasma proteins have access.
Macrophages enter from blood and tissue.
Fibroblasts lay down collagen to repair damaged tissue.
Collagen repairs exudate.
It patches tissue defects, replaces dead or necrotic tissue and contracts and pulls together.
This results in a fibrous tissue/scar.
Fibrosis can also be a problem.
What are some chronic inflammatory diseases that result from acute inflammation?
Acne
Cholecystitis
Osteomyelitis
What are some primary chronic inflammatory diseases?
Autoimmune diseases Thyroiditis Rheumatoid disease Pernicious anaemia SLE
What are some causes for primary chronic inflammation?
Material resistant to digestion such as bacteria with cell walls.
Exogenous substances such as sutures, metal and plastic which doesn’t provoke an immune response.
Endogenous substance necrotic tissue, keratin or hair.
Granulomatous inflammation.
What are five other names for macrophages related to their stages?
Monocytes Histiocytes Activated macrophage Epitheloid cell Giant cell
