CVS Pathology I Flashcards
Congestive heart failure involves an interplay of what 2 factors?
1) Inability of the heart to maintain sufficient CO to support body functions
2) Recruitment of compensatory mechanisms to maintain cardiac reserve
Heart failure is characterized by?
1) Diminished cardiac output (forward failure)
2) Damming back of blood to the venous system (backward failure)
According to the Frank Starling Mechanism, the stroke volume increases in response to…
increased (end diastolic volume) volume of blood filling the heart
Compensatory mechanisms in CHF
Frank Starling mechanism, Myocardial hypertrophy (with or without dilation), Activation of the neurohumoral system
In the heart, pressure overload causes _____ while Volume overload causes ______
muscle hypertrophy; chamber dilation
Name 2 important things to take note in the histology of the hypertrophic heart
thickness of the myocardium & box-type nuclei (enlarged)
(T/F) CHF almost always presents with tachycardia.
True
3 systems activated in the neurohumoral compensatory response in CHF
NE/Epinephrine, Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, Release of atrial-natriuretic peptide
Release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) causes sodium and water _______ therefore causing ______
retention; edema
What is the role of the RAA system in the compensatory system of CHF?
RAA activation causes tubular reabsorption of sodium and water –> increased blood volume –> increased venous return –> increased volume to L ventricle –> augment failing heart
Pressure overload causes what kind of hypertrophy?
Concentric
Give examples of pathological states with pressure overload
systemic hypertension, pulmonary hypertension
Give examples of pathological states with volume overload
aortic/mitral regurgitation, shunting anomalies
(T/F) A 25 YO male’s heart was determined to weigh 350 grams. His heart is considered enlarged.
False. Normal for males: 300-350 grams; Females 250-300 grams
Give the basis for myocardial contractile failure
1) Death of myocytes/loss of vital pump elements
2) Overworked, fatigued cardiac muscles
3) Altered gene expression with prolonged hemodynamic overload
4) Re-expression of pattern of protein synthesis similar to fetal cardiac development
Give functional modifications in the heart in heart failure after neurohumoral stimulation
Increased inotropy; Increased HR; Vasoconstriction; Na and water retention
Give structural modifications in the heart in heart failure after neurohumoral stimulation
Hypertrophy, Increased nonmuscular tissue, Increased expression of adult cardiac genes
Give the end results of functional & structural modifications in the heart in heart failure after neurohumoral stimulation
1) Increased energy demand
2) Altered loading conditions
3) Altered vascular/diastolic properties
4) Proarrhythmogenic effect
Give some anatomic, biochemical and ultrastructural changes in the heart in CHF
1) Pathologic hypertrophy
2) Increased protein synthesis
3) Altered gene expression
4) Synthesis of abnormal proteins
5) Fibrosis
6) Decrease calcium
7) Microciculatory spasm (further ischemia)
8) Apoptosis
Mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction in CHF
Pump failure, Obstruction of flow, Regurgitant flow, Disorders of cardiac conduction, Disruption of normal circulatory continuity
Examples of diseases that cause myocardial dysfunction
IHD, Dilated cardiomyopathy
Examples of diseases that cause ventricular pressure overload
HTN, Aortic stenosis, Pulmonary embolism, cor pulmonale,