Diseases of the Cardiovascular System (29) Flashcards
What’s the most common cause of death in women in UK?
CVD
Cancer
Resp disease
What’s the most common cause of death in men in UK?
Cancer
CVD
CHD
Resp
Ischaemic heart disease
Inadequate blood supply to the myocardium
IHD is due to
Reduced coronary blood flow, almost always due to atheroma +/- thrombus, myocardial hypertrophy - systemic hypertension
Pathogenesis
Auto-regulation of coronary blood flow breaks down if >75% occlusion, low diastolic flow (subendocardial), active aerobic metabolism of cardiac muscle, myocyte dysfunction, recovery possible if rapid reperfusion (15-20min)
Typical/stable angina
Fixed obstruction, predictable relationship to exertion
Crescendo/unstable angina
Often due to plaque disruption, red flag symptom
Variant/prinzmetal angina
Coronary artery spasm (Ca channel blockers)
Acute coronary syndrome
Acute MI (+/- ST elevation), crescendo/unstable angina
IHD syndromes
- Angina pectoris
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Sudden cardiac death
- Chronic ischaemic heart disease
Acute ischaemia
Atheroma + acute thrombosis/haemorrhage, lipid rich plaques, transmural MI, thrombolysis, myocardial stunning (contractile abnormality)
Diagnosis of acute ischaemia
Clinical, ECG, blood cardiac proteins
Subendocardial MIs
Poorly perfused, can infarct without any acute coronary occlusion if acute hypotensive episode/stable athermanous occlusion of coronary artery, non-elevation, involves innermost layer of myocardium doesn’t extend to epicardium
MI morphology
Normal
MI morphology 1-2 days
Pale, oedema, yellow infarct, myocyte necrosis, neutrophils
MI morphology 3-7 days
Yellow with haemorrhagic edge, myocyte necrosis, macrophages
MI morphology 1-3 weeks
Pale, thin, red/gray granulation tissue then fibrosis
MI morphology 3-6 weeks
Dense fibrous scar (collagen)
Blood markers of cardiac myocyte damage
- Troponins T & I
- Creatine kinase MB
- Myoglobin
- Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1
- Aspartate transaminase
Troponins T & I
- Detectable 2-3hrs-7 days, peaks 12 hours
- Raised post MI, P.E, heart failure and myocarditis
Creatine kinase MB
- Detectable 2-3hrs-3 days, peaks 10-24 hours
- Not very specific - skeletal muscle damage
Myoglobin
- Peaks at 2hr
- Released from damaged skeletal muscles
Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1
Peaks at 3 days, detectable until 14 days
Aspartate transaminase
Present in liver - not v.useful
Which is most useful marker of cardiac myocyte damage?
Troponins T & I
Prognosis of MI
20% 1-2hr mortality - sudden cardiac death
Complications of MI (80-90%)
Arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation, sudden death, ischaemic pain, LV failure, shock, pericarditis, cardiac mural thrombus and emboli, DVT, P.E, myocardial rupture (tamponade, ventricular septal perforation, papillary muscle rupture), ventricular aneurysm, autoimmune pericarditis (Dressler’s) +/- pleurisy 2 weeks-months post, haemopericardium
Common MI complications
Ventricular fibrillation, LV failure, DVT and PE
Chronic IHD
Coronary artery atheroma produces relative myocardial ischaemia and angina pectoris on exertion, risk of sudden death/MI, possible previous MIs, crescendo/unstable angina (evolving plaque), variant angina (spasm)
Familial hypercholesterolaemia
Mutations in LDL receptor gene/apolipoprotein B
Familial hypercholesterolaemia heterozygotes
Xanthomas (yellow nodules) in tendons, perioccular, corneal arcus and early atherosclerosis
Familial hypercholesterolaemia heterozygotes treatment
Statins (hydroxymethyglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitors)
Familial hypercholesterolaemia homozygotes treatment
More complex and less effective
Blood pressure is physiologically regulated to
Ensure perfusion of organs sufficient to maintain function, prevents higher flow (that exceeds metabolic demands and increases damage to blood vessels and organs)
Hypertension
140/90 mmHg
What controls BP
Cardiac baroreceptors, RAAS, Kinin-kallikrein system, Naturetic peptides, Adrenergic receptor system, Autocrine factors produced by blood vessels, Autonomic NS, Na balance
Renin
Synthesised, stored in, released from juxtaglomerular apparatus in wall of afferent arterioles of the kidney, cleaves angiotensinogen > angiotensin I
Angiotensin 2
Vasoconstrictor, short half-life, stimulates adrenal cortex to produce aldosterone
Alodsterone
Mineralcorticoid, causes sodium and water retention, circulating blood vol increase
Renal artery stenosis
Reduced bp in kidneys and afferent arterioles, juxtaglomerular apparatus stimulates renin, RAAS stimulates adrenal cortex zone glomerulosa cells > aldosterone
Coarctation of aorta
Congenital narrowing, distal to original of left subclavian artery, RAAS activated, asymptomatic, difference in bp between arms and legs, chest x-ray
Treatment of coarctation of aorta
Surgery
Conn’s syndrome
Excess aldosterone secretion
Conn’s syndrome due to
Adrenocortical adenoma, micronodular hyperplasia
Conn’s syndrome causes
Renal sodium and water retention (hypertension), elevated aldosterone, low renin, potassium loss
Low potassium
Muscular weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, paraesthesia, metabolic alkalosis
Diagnosis of Conn’s syndrome
CT scan of adrenal glands and metabolic abnormalities
Phaeochromocytoma
Catecholamine secreting tumour of adrenal medulla (Vasoconstrictors - adrenaline and noradrenaline)