L43 Valvular Heart Disease and Cardiac Neoplasms Flashcards
What are the two types of semilunar valves in the heart and how many cusps do they have?
Aortic and pulmonary; three
Upon what does the function of semilunar valves depend?
Integrity and coordinated movement of cusps and attachments
What are the two types of atrioventricular valves in the heart?
Tricuspid and mitral
Upon what does the function of AV valves depend?
Integrity of valve apparati (including leaflets, annulus, chordae tendinae, papillary muscles, ventricular wall)
Describe the basic histology of a valve.
Lined by endocardium with a connective tissue core of variable density
What is the difference between regurgitant and stenotic valvular heart disease?
Regurgitant: insufficient, allows backflow of blood
Stenotic: tight valve
What is the most common congenital valvular heart disease?
Biscupid aortic valve
Describe the etiology of a bicuspid aortic valve.
Normally, the aortic valve has three cusps. Here, there is incomplete embryonic separation, leading to 2 cusps
What does bicuspid aortic valve cause?
Aortic stenosis and increased pressure load on L ventricle
Any kind of abnormal valve can be predisposed to developing what infection?
Endocarditis
What is the most common cause of aortic stenosis?
Calcific aortic degeneration
What happens in calcific aortic degeneration?
Dystrophic calcification - deposition of calcium at sites of cell injury and necrosis
Discuss the development of calcific aortic stenosis.
Over time, calcified masses develop within aortic cusps. This prevents the cusp from opening, which obstructs outflow, increases pressure gradient across the valve, and leads to concentric LVH development.
What are the symptoms of calcific aortic stenosis?
Congestive heart failure, angina due to myocardial ischemia, and syncope
What happens in mitral valve prolapse?
Mitral valve leaflets are enlarged, redundant, and floppy; they balloon into the atrium during systole. This can injure the atrium.
What can be seen histologically in mitral valve prolapse?
Expansion of the spongiosa via deposition of myxomatous (mucoid) material; this makes the valve more floppy.
What is the pathogenesis of mitral valve prolapse?
Unknown; some patients have a developmental defect of connective tissue (Marfan Syndrome), but not all patients
Describe the epidemiology of mitral valve prolapse.
Occurs in 3% of the population, particularly in young women
What are the symptoms of mitral valve prolapse?
Majority are asymptomatic, midsystolic click (snapping of chorda tendinae); minority of patients have non-specific symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, fatigue, depression, and anxiety
What are the rare, serious complications of mitral valve prolapse seen in 3% of patients?
- Infective endocarditis
- Mitral insufficiency (regurgitation)
- Stroke/systemic infarction (due to embolism of thrombi formed in atria due to ballooning)
- Arrhythmia
What is infective endocarditis?
Destructive inflammation of cardiac valves and endocardium caused by infection (most commonly bacterial)
What is a hallmark of infective endocarditis?
Vegetation
What is vegetation?
Warty excrescences on the valves of the heart composed of various tissue elements including fibrin and collagen