HW Flashcards
Def caval syndrome
- Acute manifestation of HW disease
o Large # of HW in R heart → 30-200 worms
o Intertwined, trapped in TV apparatus
Prevalence caval syndrome
uncommon
o Sex predilection: 75-90% males
Pathophys caval syndrome
- Mass of worm in RV → RA
o Worms trapped in TV apparatus → acute/severe TR
Can be exacerbated by PH from HW
Can develop R sided CHF
o ↓CO in pulmonary circulation → L sided volume underload → ↓ systemic CO → poor perfusion - IV hemolysis → hemoglobinemia/uria
o From shear stress on RBCs forced to flow around the worms at high velocity
RBC more fragile in dogs with caval syndrome → alteration of RBC membrane
Etiology caval syndrome
HW get from PA → R heart
* Normally held in place into PA against gravity because of forward flow
o Found in RV at necropsy since blood stops at time of death
* Start in PA → descend into RV → ascend into RA = MIGRATION
o From 5-17months after infection
o Any event resulting into transient or sustained ↓PA forward flow
High HW burden → PH → poor CO → ↓ blood flow
Arrhythmias can occur w severe dz → ↓ PA blood flow
o Once in RV → can use TV to pull themselves into RA
Leading worms can be forced into VC
C/s caval syndrome
- Cardiogenic shock and circulatory collapse
o Anorexia, depression, weakness
o Respiratory signs: dyspnea, tachypnea, coughing - Dark brown to black urine
PE caval syndrome
- Heart murmur: R sided systolic apical murmur (87% of cases), loud/split S2, gallop
- R-CHF: ascites, hepatomegaly, jugular vein distension
Dx BW/UA caval syndrome
o Hemoglobinemia/uria → pathognomonic
o Other signs are secondary to hypoperfusion, hepatic congestion and inflammation
Moderate regenerative anemia: reticulocytes, ↑ RBC volume, nucleated RBC
* Target , schistocytes, spur , spherocytes
Inflammatory leukogram: neutrophilia with L shift
Eosinophilia
↑liver enzymes
Hyperbilirubinemia
Azotemia
Proteinuria, bilirubinuria, hemoglobinuria
o Disseminated intravascular coagulation: thrombocytopenia,↑ clotting time, hypofibrinogenemia
Intravascular hemolysis
Metabolic acidosis
↓hepatic fct → impaired removing of circulating procoagulant
o Can lead to hepatic or renal failure → products of hemolysis
o Microfilaremia (85% of dogs)
CTX caval syndrome
R heart enlargement, tortuous PA, interstitial parenchymal changes
ECG caval syndrome
R axis deviation
o Deep S wave in lead I,II,III, aVF (56%)
o Arrhythmias: sinus tachycardia (33%), APC (28%), VPC (6%)
Echo caval syndrome
o Presence of worms in the R heart: high # of worms in RA moving into RV in diastole
o RA/RVE
o Paradoxical septal motion from ↑RVP
o Indications of PH
PA dilation
Reduced L sided parameters
TR, PI
Cardiac KT caval syndrome
↑ pressures in RA, RV, PA
Px caval syndrome
- Guarded to poor: 30-40% mortality with appropriate tx
- Death in 24-72h w/o tx
Complications after tx
o Organ failure
o DIC
Tx caval syndrome
- Surgical removal of worms via jugular vein
- Supportive care: corticosteroids, heparin, ATBs
o IV fluids to improve CO
Initial should be aggressive if shock and - Normal venous pressures <5mmHg → 10-20ml/kg
- Increased venous pressures >10mmHg → 1-2ml/kg
o Prevent or reverse DIC
o Prevent Hb nephropathy
o Reverse lactic acidosis
What causes complications in caval syndrome
- Maceration of worms → massive AG release
o Can lead to severe pulmonary vasoconstriction
o DIC
o Administration of parenteral corticosteroids + heparin necessary
After procedure (caval syndrome) care
o Adulticide should be given → kill remaining worms
o Disappearance of TR, ↑CO and ↓RAP may take several days
Vector of dirofilaria immitis
- Vector: 60 species of mosquitoes, important ones <12
o Risk of HW infection correlated to lifestyle: outside dogs 4-5x more likely than indoor
o Cats less likely to be bitten by mosquitoes
1 species (Culex) more likely than other
Life cycle of dirofilaria immitis
- Adult HW: L5 → reside in PAs
- Completion of life cycle 184-210 days
o Microfilaremia occurs as early as 6mo
Typically 7-9 months
Seasonal/diurnal periodicity: ↑# in evening and summer
Microfilariea live up to 30 months
Steps of infection/life stages dirofilaria immitis
- After mating → mature adult females (L5) produce microfilariae (L1) → released into circulation
- L1 ingested by female mosquitoe
- L1 then undergo 2 molts: L1 →L2 and L2 → L3 over 8-17 days
o Temperature dependent: requires 2w of T > 27C
Development does not occur <14C
o Wolbachia pipipentis: symbiotic bacteria necessary for maturation - L3 is infective → transmitted to host (dog) by feeding
- After infection:
o Molt occurs in subQ, adipose and skeletal muscle tissue (1-12 days): L3 → L4
o Final molt L4 → L5 (immature adult) is after 2-3months (50-68 days) - L5 (1-2cm length) migrate into vascular system → heart/lungs
o Final maturation to mature adult: males 15-18cm, females 25-30cm
o Mating: microfilariae detected after 6mo
Life span worms
5-7years
Pathophys: what causes c/s and disease severity
- HW reside primarily in caudal pulmonary vascular tree
o Can migrate in PAs, R heart, great veins
o Obstructions of pulmonary vessels by worms is little clinical significance unless high worm burden in small patient
Worms mainly in caudal PAs until #>25 worms (in 25kg dog)
o Disease severity and onset depend on # of worms (1 to 250)
>100 worms at high risk for caval syndrome - Damage of PAs and lungs
Severity of lesions to lungs are related to
# of worms
Duration of infection
* Reversible in 4-6wks if brief infection
Host and parasite interaction
Worms are triggered by
toxic substances, immunologic response, physical trauma
Histo lesions lung vessels
Villous myointimal proliferation
Inflammation
Pulmonary hypertension
Disruption of vascular integrity
Fibrosis
Arterial obstruction/vasoconstriction from live worms
Thromboemboli of dead worms