Inflammation Flashcards
List 6 causes of acute inflammation.
- Micro-organisms
- Mechanical
- Chemical
- Physical
- Dead tissue
- Hypersensitivity
What are the benefits of acute inflammation?
- Rapid response
- Cardinal signs and loss of function
- resolution and return to normal
What is the function of neutrophils?
Destroy organisms and denature antigens for macrophages.
What is the function of neutrophils?
Destroy organisms and denature antigens for macrophages.
What is the function of plasma proteins in acute inflammation?
Localise process.
Describe the three main steps in the sequence of microvascular change.
- Change in vessel radius and blood flow
- Increase permeability of vessel wall.
- Movement of neutrophils from the vessel to the extracellular compartment.
What changes occur with the vessel radius and blood flow during inflammation>
- Transient arteriolar constriction and local arteriolar dilatation.
- relaxation of smooth muscle
- increase blood flow to local tissues
What causes endothelial leak?
Released during the localised vascular response when the permeability of the cell wall is increased.
What are the effects of endothelial leak?
Net movement of plasma from capillaries to extravascular space (exhudation) causes OEDEMA, PAIN and REDUCES FUNCTION.
Describe the main three steps regarding the movement of neutrophils.
- Margination (move to endothelial aspects of lumen)
- Pavementing (neutrophils adhere to endothelial aspects)
- Emigration (neutrophils squeeze between endothelial cells to extravascular tissues)
What is exudate composed of?
Protein, plasma, immunoglobulins and fibrinogen.
What is the result on blood after fluid loss?
Increased viscosity and slows rate of flow.
What are the local effects of acute inflammation?
Redness and heat, swelling, door (pain) and loss of function.
List the immediate systemic effects of acute inflammation.
Pyrexia, feel unwell (malaise, anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting in children) and neutrophilic (increased WBC)
List the longer term systemic side effects of acute inflammation.
Weight loss, lymphadenopathy, anaemia.
Describe complications of acute inflammation.
Dissemination i.e septic shock.
Describe dissemination.
Inflammation spread to bloodstream (bacteraemia in blood, toxaemia with toxic products in blood or septicaemia with growth in blood). Shock prevents perfusion of tissues, causing vasodilatation.
What are the signs of shock.
Increase HR, decrease BP, increase temperature, rash
What is the cause of dissemination.
Chemical release mediators from cells to plasma
What chemical mediators are released by bacterial endotoxins?
IL-1
What is the result of compensation failure?
Septic shock (unable to perfuse tissues)
Summarise the cell-surface mediators of acute inflammation?
ICAM-1 and P-selectin
Summarise the mediators released from cells.
Histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, omega-3 polyunsaturated fats, platelet-activating factor, cytokines and chemokine, NO, oxygen free radicals.
Name three process of acute inflammation that can be altered to the detriment of patients.
Suppuration (pus formation), Organisation (granulation tissue - fibrous and scar), Dissemination (spread to bloodstream)
List the cell types involved in chronic inflammation.
Lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, NK cells, T cells.
What are the major causes of chronic inflammation?§
- From acute inflammation
2. Arising as a primary lesion
Describe the effects of chronic inflammation.
Long term, tissue or organ damage, no specific “for bit”, malaise and weight loss, loss of function.
Describe organisation.
Granulation tissue, healing and repair, fibrosis and scar.
What is the function of fibroblasts?
Produce collagens to form matrix and replace exudate to form a scar.
Describe adverse effects of tissue scarring.
Structural and functional deterioration.
E.g peptic ulcer, cholecystitis, osteomyelitis, pain or numbness, hair follicles don’t grow back, loss of muscle power (after MI).
List factors involved in promoting healing and repair.
- cleanliness
- apposition of edges
- sound nutrition
- metabolic stability
- normal inflammatory and coagulation mechanisms.
Describe the role of angiogenesis in healing and repair.
New vessels form (capillary beds), VEGF released by hypoxic cells stimulates proliferation, enzyme secretion aids progression, enabled blood supply to enter damaged tissue.