CPC 2 (haemoptysis) Flashcards
History of haemoptysis
Source Volume Frequency Admixed or alone Fresh or old
Investigations for someone with haemoptysis, chest pain, fever, wheeze, crepitations
Bloods: FBC, U&Es, LFT, inflammatory markers. Troponin I and D-dimer.
Imaging: CXR, ECG
Special tests: autoimmune screen.
Mechanisms of causes of haemoptysis
Neoplasia Infection Inflammation Impaired clotting Raised pulmonary pressure Aberrant anatomy.
Pulmonary vasculitis is often associated with…
necrosis of vessels
systemic vasculitis.
Vasculitides affecting large vessels
Giant cell arteritis, Takayashu ateritis, Behcet’s disease.
Churg-strauss syndrome is also called…
eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis
allergic granulomatosis
Vasculitides affecting middle sized vessels
Polyarteritis nodosa (rare in lungs), Kawasaki vasculitis.
Vasculitides affecting small vessels
Wegener granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndroome, microscopic polyangitis.
Vasculitis radiology
Can be VERY VARIABLE.
Takayashu ateritis
Affects large blood vessels.
Affects mostly young asian women.
Causes intimal proliferation and fibrosis of media and adventitia.
Results in luminal narrowing, occlusion, aneurysms.
Medium vessel arteritis
Very rare, uncommon in lungs.
Generally in children under 5 years.
Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (vasculitis)
Generally from small vessel vasculitis.
Results in haemoptysis, with diffuse alveolar infiltrates. Causes a drop in haematocrit.
Can vary in appearance from ground glass to consolidation.
Causes of non-infectious vasculitis
Immune complexes
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)
anti-endothelial cell antibodies.
ANCA
Antibodies against cytoplasm of neutrophils (probably cross reactive). These activate neutrophils, which show MPO and PR3 on their surface.
Treatment of vasculitis
Need to be careful; immunosuppression improves immune-mediated vasculitis but worsens infectious vasculitis.
Origin of cells in granulomatous inflammation of the lungs
Bone marrow haematopoietic stem cells become monocytes which become tissue macrophages/histiocytes which try to contain the ineradicable offending material.
Types of granuloma
Inert foreign material granulomas
Immune granulomas caused by agents able to induce granulomas (mycobacteria, fungi, parasites).
Differentials for granulomatous disease
Infectious
Non-infectious - auto-immune or due to exposure.
Commonest causes of community acquired pneumonia
streptococcus pneumonia
Cause of pneumonia in patients with alcoholism
Can be Klebsiella pneumonia. Gives a red currant jelly sputum. Can be acutely necrotising. High mortality rate even with treatment (50%).
Risk factors for community acquired pneumonia
Age extremes Impaired gag-reflex / muco-ciliary escalator. Non-functioning spleen Impaired immunity Chronic heart/lung/liver conditions Smoking/alcoholism.
Treatment of choice for community acquired pneumonia.
B-lactam antibiotic (amoxicillin) +/- clarithromycin.
Forms of aspergillus lung infections
Allergic pulmonary aspergillosis
Aspergilloma in pre-existing lung cavities
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunosuppression.
S. Aureus pneumonia - associations and effect
Associated with PVL
Causes cavitating lesions and lung abscess.
Host factors affecting TB risk
Previous exposures Extremes of age Nutritional status Living conditions Other underlying medical conditions Immunosuppression
Environmental factors affecting TB risk
Endemic infection
Homelessness
Drug and alcohol misuse
Imprisonment
Pathogenesis of TB
Bacilli taken up by macrophages, which then go to lymph nodes resulting in Type 1 cytokines which lead to accumulation of macrophages/histiocytes and granuloma formation. This leads to necrosis, with some of the bacilli dying, extensive tissue necrosis, cavitation and spread.
Diagnosis of TB
Microscopy, culture, molecular methods (PCR, DNA probes).
Treatment of TB
2 months of pyrazinamide ad ethambutol, 6 months of isoniazid and rifampicin.
Rifampicin action
Blocks mRNA synthesis
Isoniazid action
Inhibits mycolic acid synthesis
Pyrazinamide action
Inhibits mycolic acid synthesis.