Histopathology 12 - Respiratory pathology Flashcards
Main causes of pumonary oedema
- Left heart failure
- Alveolar injury i.e. in patients who have inhaled fire-smoke fumes
- Neurogenic i.e. after a brain injury, can lead to systemic effects
- High altitude
How does diffuse alveolar damage appear on CXR?
Firm and expanded lungs
Also “white out” of all lung fields
What are the acute features of the airway in asthma?
Acute bronchospasm
Acute mucosal oedema
Inflammation
What are the chronic features of the airway in asthma?
Muscular hypertrophy
Airway narrowing
Mucus plugging
What are the features of COPD?
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema
Describe the features of chronic bronchitis
- Chronic cough productive of sputum
- Most days for at least 3 months over at least 2 consecutive years
How does chronic hypoxia affect the heart?
Pulmonary hypertension —> right heart failure
COR PULMONALE
What is emphysema?
Permanent loss of the alveolar parenchyma distal to the terminal bronchiole
What is the genetic association of emphysema?
Alpha 1 anti-trypsin
Since a1 antitrypsin helps neutralise the activation of neutrophils and proteases and keep this system in balance, so deficiency increases R of emphysema due to damage from immune cells
Recall the pathophysiology of emphysema
- Smoking causes inflammation
- Neutrophil and macrophage involvement
- Proteases recruited
- Breakdown of epithelium
What does lung bullous rupture cause?
Pneumothorax
NB bullae form as complication of emphysema (bullae = large air spaces)
What is bronchiectasis?
Permanent abnormal dilatation of bronchi with inflammation and fibrosis into adjacent parenchyma
Recall the complications of bronchiectasis
- Haemoptysis
- Pulmonary HTN
- RHF
- Amyloidosis secondary to chronic inflammation
- Recurrent infections
Which condition has the strongest association with bronchiectasis?
Cystic fibrosis
What is bronchopneumonia?
Inflammation centred around airway (small bronchi and bronchioles)
Occurs in elderly pts
Where does bronchopneumonia often affect?
Lower lobes
Which type of pneumonia has become much rarer since ABx have been in use?
Lobar pneumonia
What is empyema?
Infected pleural effusion