Inflammation Flashcards
What causes inflammation?
Infection or injury, you can have inflammation without infection but not infection without inflammation.
What is the purpose of inflammation?
To establish an environment suitable for healing and repair.
What does inflammation do?
Neutralizes and dilutes infammatory agent.
Removes necrotic materials.
How does inflammation occur?
- Microbial invasion
- Heat
- Radiation - sunburn, or radiation treatments.
- Chemicals - cleaning agents
- Allergens - exaggerated in asthma
- Autoimmune reactions
What is acute inflammation?
Lasts 2-3 weeks, usually no residual damage after healing.
Neutrophils - predominant cell types at site of inflammation.
What is subacute inflammation?
Same features as acute inflammation but can last weeks to months.
What populations are at most risk for a severe or ineffective inflammatory response?
Very young
Very old
Uninsured
What lab tests do we monitor for inflammation?
CBC WBC with differential CRP ESR Serological tests to detect specific antibodies or viruses
What does an elevated CRP mean?
It is an inflammatory marker and indicates inflmmation in the body.
What can people with fibro myalgia take to reduce inflammation?
Vitamin B
What is ESR?
The rate at which red blood cells fall to the bottom of a beaker and is a marker for inflammation.
What radiographic studies do we use to detect inflammation?
MRI
CAT
PET Scans
Colonscopy
What is MRI really good at looking at?
Soft tissue and is very specific
Good for acute inflammation
Can detect inflammatory chagnes in the tissue.
What does a colonoscopy have to do with inflammation?
Looking for GI diseases like Chrohn’s or Ulcerative collitis.
What is chronic inflammation?
Can last weeks, months, or years.
Injurious agent persists or repeats injury to tissue
May result from changes in immune response like autoimmune diseases.
What can we do to reduce inflammation in chronic patients?
Biological modifiers that ends with -mavs
In acute situations we can give steroids
What do leukotrienes do?
Causes inflammation in the lungs and in asthma patients hyper-inflammation and singulair is used for this.
What are the chemical mediators of inflammation?
Histamine Serotonin Kinins - bradykinins e.g. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes Cytokines Complement system C3a, C4a, C5a
What does Thromboxane do?
It is a clotting agent.
What are local manifestations of inflammation?
Redness Heat Pain Swelling Loss of function
What is in pus?
White blood cells
What are systemic manifestations of inflammation?
Increased WBC count “Shift to the left” Malaise Nausea and anorexia Increased pulse and respiratory rate Fever
What is POLICE?
Protect - Immobilize or wrap Optimal load - move area to a certain degree Ice - Reduce swelling and pain Compress - Reduce edema and stabilize Elevate - Reduce edema and pain
What can we do to prevent inflammation?
- Health promotion Prevention of injury Adequate nutrition and hydration Early recognition of inflammation Immediate treatment
How do we acutely care for inflammation?
Observation and vital signs Immunosuppressed - classic manifestations masked with “ I just don’t feel well” - Fever management Determine cause Administer antipyretic or antibiotics Monitor for seizures or delirium >104 F
Acute care for older adults and persons taking corticosteroids regularly.
Blunted response to fever
Illness may be severe
Sponge baths, cooling blankets useful to lower temperature, avoid shivering.
What drugs can we provide for inflammation?
Antipyretics - Acetaminophen
Anti inflammatory - Corticosteroids
Salicylates (Aspirin)
NSAIDS - Ibuprofen
What is inflammation?
A process where the body migrates towards an area of injury with multiple cells and proteins to remove the irritant.
Why is it normal to have a slightly higher temperature after surgery?
Because of inflammation
What is CRP?
C reactive protein is an inflammatory marker that indicates inflammation.
What are the predominant cell types in chronic inflammation?
lymphocyte and macrophages.
What should a patient on steroids do?
Be careful who they are around, steroids lower immunity.
What medications block Prostaglandins, Thromboxane, and Leukotrienes?
Corticosteroids
NSAIDs
ASA inhibitors
Is fever a normal response to injury in the body?
Yes
What is thromboxane?
Powerful vasoconstrictor (Pallor)
Brief due to short half life
Platelet-aggregating agent
Promotes clot formation
What are leukotrienes?
Slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis Bronchoconstriction Airway narrowing Increased capillary permeability Airway edema
