Ischemic Heart Disease Flashcards
ischemia
refers to a lack of oxygen due to inadequate perfusion, which results from an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand
Narrowing of the coronary artery lumen can cause
- hypertension -> hypertrophy
- increased work load -> heart failure
- formation of a thrombus -> MI
risk factors for ischemic heart disease
smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia; some reversal of disease process with elimination of risk factors
Other associated problems with ischemic heart disease
thromboemboli, particularly from valvular vegetations; coronary artery spasm (cocaine); coronary arteritis; increased work load or decreased oxygen delivery of any cause; anomalous origin of the left coronary artery; chest trauma
Ischemia results from
oxygen supply/oxygen demand mis-match
Mechanism of ischemic injury
inadequate 02 delivery; occlusive disease; myocardial injury
most common cause of decreased perfusion
progressive stenosis with or without associated formation of thrombus
Other causes of decreased perfusion
thromboembolus, vasospasm, vasculitis, hyperperfusion secondary to hypovolemia
Causes of decreased oxygenation
anemia, carbon monoxide, congenital heart disease, asphyxia, lung disease
Important underlying principles of atherosclerosis
no specific correlation between the extent of stenosis and type or severity of ischemic heart disease; rapidity of decreased perfusion, tendency of thrombus formation
Critical event in atherosclerosis
abrupt mismatch of perfusion to demand
Decreased ability to meet an increase in demand once stenosis reaches
75%
coronary artery thrombus usually occurs
in the first 2 cm of the coronary vessel of LAD or left circumflex; occurs in the proximal and distal 1/3 of the right coronary artery
coronary artery thrombus formation usually results from
rupture of fissure of plaque with platelet aggregation, release of TXA2
Vasospasms are associated with
adrenergic stimulation, local factors (NO, endothelin, platelet factors including thromboxane)
Vasospasms have a clear association with
stress, excitement; more MI’s occur between 6AM and noon
Vasospasms may be mediated by
hypertension, increased platelet activity
conductance vessels and major sites of atherosclerosis
epicardial coronary vessels
Intramyocardial coronary vessels
resistance vessels (major determinant of autoregulation and flow)
Area at greatest risk for ischemia
subendocardium
What happens to myocytes with a decrease in O2
cells switch to anaerobic glycolysis within minutes; glucose is broken down into lactate; pH is reduced; impaired cell membrane function results in leakage of potassium and uptake of sodium