Inflammation

Question 1

What is inflammation.

Answer 1

The host’s response to tissue damage. It is a protective response that aims to remove the cause, initiate repair and reinstate useful function.

Question 2

Acute inflammation triggers what response?

Answer 2

Vascular and cellular response.

Question 3

Explain the process of cellular inflammatory response

Answer 3

Migration
Rolling
Adhesion
Transmigration
Chemotaxis
Neutrophils appear after 6-24 hours, monocytes appear 24-48 hours.

Question 4

What is the process of phagocytosis and what is its outcomes?

Answer 4

Leucocytes engulf the cell degrading them
Phagocytosis results in complete resolution.
Connective tissue is replaced by fibrosis
Once this is completed chronic inflammation will follow.

Question 5

List the causes of chronic inflammation.

Answer 5

Persistant infection
Immune mediated inflammation
Prolonged exposure to toxic agents.

Question 6

What is a granuloma.

Answer 6

When there is a failed cellular attempt to phagocytose the agent. This leads to the strong activation of macrophages and T lymphocytes. This leads to the injury of normal tissues.

Question 7

What are the cardinal signs of chronic inflammation.

Answer 7

Redness, heat, swelling, pain, loss of function, tachycardia, hypotension, fever, anorexia, malaise, sepsis.

Question 8

What is acute inflammation?

Answer 8

Rapid response that is short lived.
Neutrophils predominate and aim for complete resolution.
Leads to healing by fibrosis, but can also form chronic inflammation.

Question 9

What is chronic inflammation?

Answer 9

Prolonged response caused by persistent infection, prolonged exposure to toxins, autoimmune reactions.

Question 10

What are the outcomes of acute inflammation?

Answer 10

Complete resolution
Healing by fibrosis.
Abcess formation.
Chronic inflammation

Question 11

Give examples of poor immune response.

Answer 11

Acute appendicitis
Septic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Peptic ulcer.

Question 12

What are the symptoms of acute appendicitis.

Answer 12

Central and abdominal pain.

Pyrexia, raised HR, raised WCC.

Question 13

What are the symptoms of septic arthritis?

Answer 13

Red hot swollen joint.

Tachycardia, pyrexia, raised WCC

Question 14

What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 14

Warm stiff painful joints.

Can lead to vasculitis- circulatory problems.