Inflammation Flashcards
inflammation
Inflammation is the reaction of a vascularised living tissue to a local injury
how are inflammation lesions typically indicated
by suffix (ITIS -> appendicitis, bronchitis)
causes of inflammation
• Infectious agents • Tissue necrosis • Foreign bodies • Immune reactions (hypersensitivity responses) • Endogenous • Exogenous
objectives of inflammation
- Localise and eliminate the causative
agent - Limit tissue injury
- Begin the process of repair
5 classic local signs of acute inflammation
- Calor - Heat
- Rubor - Redness
- Tumor - Swelling
- Dolor - Pain
- Functio laesa – loss of function
difference between acute and chronic inflammation
acute - immediate and rapid response but resolves just as fast
chronic - longstanding, primary or followed after acute inflammation
onset differences of acute and chronic inflammation
acute - fast (minutes - hours)
chronic - slow (days)
cellular infiltrate difference between acute and chronic swelling
acute - mainly neutrophils
chronic - monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes
the difference in the extent of tissue injury and fibrosis in acute an chronic inflammation
acute - Usually mild and self limited
chronic - Often severe and
progressive
difference in local and system signs between acute and chronic inflammation
acute - Prominent
chronic - less
how is acute inflammation characterised
accumulation of fluid, protein and acute inflammatory cells at the site of injury
what white blood cells are the main cells in acute inflammation
neutrophils
what is acute inflammation mediated by
chemical products which cause dilatation of the
vessels & start inflammatory process derived from plasma
vascular events of acute inflammation
• Vasodilatation – increased blood flow
• Increased vascular permeability
– permitting plasma proteins and white blood cells to leave the circulation
cellular events in acute inflammation
Accumulation and activation at the site of the injury – main inflammatory cell
-> neutrophil
vascular changes in acute inflammation
vasodilation - small blood vessels, inc. blood flow and hydrostatic pressure -> redness + heat
more permeable - ooze of protein rich fluid -> swelling
oedema
pus
describe pus
purulent inflammatory exudate rich in neutrophils and
cell debris
cells in acute inflammation
white blood cells - especially neutrophils and macrophages
what white blood cells respond to bacteria
neutrophils
what white blood cells respond to viruses
lymphocytes
what white blood cells respond to allergies/hypersensitivity
eosinophils
beneficial effects of inflammation
- Dilution of toxins
- Fibrin production delays bacterial spread
- Arrival of antibodies to the site of inflammation
- Destruction of microbial agent
- Drug transport
harmful effects of inflammation
- Mechanical effect e.g. epiglottitis
- Impaired flow e.g. acute meningitis
- Impaired function
- Tissue destruction
systemic effects of inflammation - clinical
- Pyrexia
- Increased tendency to sleep
- Constitutional symptoms
- Pain
- Lymphadenopathy and splenomegal
systemic effects of inflammation - laboratory
leucocytosis
raised ESR
Anaemia
acute reactive proteins - c -reactive protein
outcomes of acute inflammation
complete resolution
abscess formation
healing by connective tissue replacement (fibrosis) after substantial tissue destruction
progression to chronic inflamamtion
what causes chronic inflammation
• Acute inflammation – prolonged normal
healing
• Persistence/repeated bouts of acute inflammation
• Low grade, smouldering
persistent infection - rubercle, bacilli, viruses
hypersensitivity
exposure to potentially toxic subtances
abscess
a walled off collection of pus
what are the main effector cells of chronic inflammation
macrophages - sense and engulf particles
induce inflammatory response