Ischemic Heart Disease and ACS Flashcards
What type of angina can chronic ischemic herat disease lead to and why?
Stable angina. This is because after each ischemic episode, inflammatory factors are released in the area, leading to platelet aggregation and eventual healing. Over time, process repeats itself and the lumen of the vessel narrows, leading to stenosis or obstruction.
What are the complications of MI that can occur from 4-7 days after MI? (3)
This is the acute inflammation stage in which macrophages enter the ischemic area and eat dead/necrotic debris. This is also when the wall is the weakest. Possible complications:
1) Rupture of ventricular free wall → cardiac tamponade.
2) Rupture of IV septum → left to right shunt
3) Rupture of papillary muscle →mitral insufficiency
Histological changes in myocardium 1-7 days after MI
Acute inflammation. In 1-3 days, presence of neutrophils. In 4-7 days, presence of macrophages
What is the mechanism of SK fibrinolytic agent and why is it not used?
Mechanism: SK attaches to plasminogen to transform plasminogen → plasmin, which dissolves clot. However, SK attaches not only to plasminogen in the clot but to all circulating plasminogens (nonspecific).
Not used anymore because it only dissolves about 50% of clot.
Histological changes in myocardium less than 4 hours after MI
None
What are different types of ischemic herat disease?
1) Angina pectoris (stable, unstable, variant)
2) Chronic ischemic heart disease
3) MI
4) Sudden cardiac death
* 5) Silent ischemia*
* 6) Syndrome X*
If EKG at rest or stress test doesn’t detect MI but you are still suspicious of an MI, what can you do?
Can do myocardial perfusion imaging, in which during rest and exercise, an isotope is injected into pt’s heart. Can visualize where obstructions occur this way.
What is silent ischemia?
Type of ischemic syndrome; pts don’t have warning system of ischemia (pain); thus, their heart becomes ischemic without pain.
What does TIMI risk score measure? How is it measured?
How likely that ACS is present and risk of death. Out of 7 points; if patient has specific risk factors (e.g. age >65, presence of smoking, DM, HTN/ known CAD etc) then patient accrues points → higher risk of ACS/ death.
What are the common ways that people describe chest pain related to an MI?
1) Like elephant sitting on my chest
2) Burning sensation
3) Choking feeling in throat
4) Tooth ache
5) Bra is too tight
What is the most common cause of ischemic heart disease/ ischemia?
Atherosclerosis.
What is the mechanism behind tPA as a fibrinolytic agent?
Attaches to plasminogen in the clot and transforms it to plasmin, which dissolevs the clot.
What factors affect coronary vascular resistance? (5)
1) External compression
2) Arterial tone (Metabolic Factor, Endothelial factors, Neural factors)
How long does pain episodes from angina pectoris last unless it has progressed to ongoing infarction?
5-10 minutes
What estimates perfusion pressure of coronary arteries and why? What can decrease perfusion pressure?
Aortic diastolic pressure because the coronary artery perfusion occurs during diastole, due to unimpaired blood flow. Conditions that decrease aortic diastolic pressure (e.g. hypotension) also decrease coronary perfusion pressure, which may lession myocardial oxygen supply.
Even though blood freely circulates in the coronary vessels, why don’t they clot?
The endothelium produces substances that prevent clotting (e.g. block clotting factors, thrombin formation, etc.)
What causes unstable angina episodes?
Acute atherosclerotic plaque rupture that leads to acute thrombosis with incomplete occlusion of coronary artery.
What two factors determine coronary bloodflow and which is the main determinant of bloodflow?
1) Perfusion pressure
2) Resistance: main determinant.
Why are cardiac enzymes elevated in the blood after an MI?
Because in MI, there is irreversible damaged to the myocytes, which results in membrane damage. In response, the enzymes from the myocytes leak out into the blood.
How does myocardial tissue get damaged in chronic ischemic heart disease?
Contractile cardiac tissue gets replaced with non-contractile fibrous tissue after each ischemic attack.
2 main mechanisms of cell death/ arrhythmias in MI
1) No oxygen → Anaerobic metabolism
2) No oxygen → no ATP production → Impaired Na+/K+ ATPase
What are the EKG/ cardiac marker changes during unstable angina episode?
EKG may/may not show ST depression and/or TWI.
There will be no elevation in troponin bc this is a reversible injury and therefore no injury to cell membrane → no leakage of cardiac enzymes.
Definition of STEMI
Occlusive thrombus with ST elevation and serum markers
What is coronary artery bypass?
Using a vein or mammary artery to connect aorta to the myocardium due to obstruction in coronary artery.
What two main factors determine myocardial O2 supply and which one has a greater influence in balancing oxygen supply with demand of the heart?
1) O2 content
2) Coronary blood flow
Coronary blood flow is the main determining factor for balancing oxygen supply/demand of the heart. This is bc unless pt is anemic or has lung disease, O2 content will be constant. However, coronary blood flow is more dynamic.
In regards to coronary blood flow, what are the two ways the ischemic heart disease can result?
Decrease in coronary blood inflow (arterial perfusion) or decrease in coronary blood outflow (venous drainage)
How does stable angina affect troponin levels and why?
No elevation in troponin- this is a reversible injury to the myocytes; as a result, there is no membrane damage and cardiac enzymes do not leak.
What happens to cardiac enzymes Troponin and CK-MB when reperfusion occurs?
Peaks earlier than usual
What is the first line tx of variant angina?
Ca2+ channel blocks (e.g. Diltiazem)
How does a decrease in coronary blood outflow/ venous drainage away frmo myocardial capillary beds lead to ischemia and hypoxic injury?
Becuase there is decreased clearance and accumulation of toxic metabolites within the myocardium
What are the triggers of variant angina episodes and why?
1) Triptans
2) Tobacco
3) Cocaine
All of these induce vasoconstriction, which could induce/ worsen coronary artery vasospasm.
Why is statin given as soon as patient with suspected MI walks into ER?
It lowers cholesterol. Although it takes time for the drug to lower cholesterol levels, patients that are given statins in addition to other MI tx (e.g. angioplasty) do markedly better than patients who are not given statins.
What is more specific for MI diagnosis, Troponin I or CK-MB and why?
Troponin I because it is only found in myocardium. CK-MB is found in both cardiac and skeletal muscle and is not as specific for MI diagnosis.
How do endothelial factors induce vasodilation of coronary blood vessels?
In response to binding of vasodilation agonists such as ACh, serotoinin, and thrombin to endothelial cell, the endothelial cell produces vasodilatory factors like NO, which goes to the smooth muscle cell to form cGMP → relaxation
What do pathologic Q waves indicate?
Old transmural infarct
How does endothelial dysfunction by atherosclerosis lead to coronary thrombus?
Endothelial damage leads to decrease in their antithrombotic effects and vasodilatory effects. This results in increased likelihood of coronary thombosis.
Definition of NSTEMI (2)
Option #1) Partially occlusive thrombus with ST segment depression and/or TWI with + serum biomarkers
Option #2) Occlusive thrombus (transient ischemia) with ST depression and/or TWI with + serum biomarkers
What are two main mechanisms of coronary thrombus formation in relation to atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis leads to coronary thrombus in two main angles- via plaque rupture, and dysfunctional endothelium.
Unstable angina and cause
CP that occurs at rest and exertion. Usually due to rupture of atherosclerotic plaque with thrombosis and incomplete occlusion of coronary artery.
Once patient is diagnosed with STEMI, what is the first thing to do within 90 minutes?
Emergency catheterization of balloon angioplasty (PCI)
Histological changes in myocardium 1-3 weeks after MI
Granulation tissue with plump fibroblasts, collagen, and BVs.
What EKG changes/ cardiac enzymes are present during episode of Prinzmetal angina?
ST elevation but no elevation of troponin levels (unlike MI)
What are the causes of coronary blood flow interruption (risk factors for ischemic heart disease)
1) Atherosclerotic narrowing of coronary blood vessel
2) Thrombus formation in coronary blood vessel
3) Coronary vasospasms (e.g. seen in prinzmetal angina pectoris)
How does stable agina usually progress?
Pts usually develop unstable agina and/or get an MI