Pathology of Respiratory Disease Flashcards
Define asthma.
A condition in which breathing is periodically rendered difficult by widespread narrowing of the airways that changes in severity over short periods of time
What are 5 signs and symptoms of asthma?
Wheezing
Acute SOB
Chest tightness
Night-time cough
Severe attack: status asthmaticus.
Give 8 aetiology/ risk factors for asthma.
Atopy (house dust mites)
Pollution
Drugs: NSAIDs
Occupational: inhaled gases/ fumes
Diet
Physical exertion: “cold”
Intrinsic
Genetic factors
What is involved in the immediate phsae of asthma?
Mast cells degranulate on contact with antigen
Mediators released cause vascular permeability, eosinophil + mast cell recruitment, + bronchospasm.
What acute changes are seen in asthma?
Bronchospasm: constricted
Oedema + Hyperaemia: swollen
What is involved in the late phase of asthma?
Tissue damage
Increased mucus production
Muscle hypertrophy (GFs triggered)
What are 3 chronic changes seen in asthma?
Muscle hypertrophy
Airway narrowing
Mucus plugging
What is this? What disease is this associated with?
Mucus plug
Asthma
What is this? What disease is this associated with?
Hyperaemia: v dilated blood vessel
Asthma
What is this? What disease is this associated with?
Eosinophilic inflammation + goblet cell hyperplasia
Asthma
What is this? What disease is this associated with?
Hypertrophic constricted muscle
Asthma
What is this? What disease is this associated with?
Mucus plugging + inflammation
Asthma
Define COPD.
Chronic cough productive of sputum – Most days for at least 3/12 over at least 2 consecutive years.
Mix of airway + alveolar pathology
(chronic bronchitis + emphysema)
Explain the aetiology/ risk factors for COPD.
Chronic injury to airways elicits local inflammation + reactive changes which predispose to further damage.
Common causes:
* Smoking
* Air pollution
* Occupational exposures
Give 4 pathological features of COPD
Dilated airways- lose structure
Mucus gland hyperplasia
Goblet cell hyperplasia
Inflammation
What are 4 complications associated with COPD?
Repeated infections (most common cause of hospital admission + death)
Chronic hypoxia + reduced exercise tolerance
Chronic hypoxia results in pulmonary HTN + right HF (cor pulmonale)
Increased risk of lung cancer independent of smoking
Define bronchiectasis.
Permanent abnormal dilatation of bronchi with inflammation + fibrosis extending into adjacent parenchyma
Inflamed scarred lungs with dilated airways
What are 9 causes of bronchiectasis?
Congenital
Inflammatory:
Infection
* Post-infectious (esp. kids/ CF patients)
* Ciliary dyskinesia 1º [Kartagener’s] + 2º
*Abnormal host defence1º [hypogammagl] + 2º [chemo, NG]
* Obstruction (extrinsic/ intrinsic/ middle lobe syn.)
* Post-inflammatory (aspiration)
* Secondary to bronchiolar disease (OB) + interstitial fibrosis (Idiopathic PF, sarcoidosis)
* Systemic disease (connective tissue disorders)
* Asthma
What are 4 complications associated with bronchiectasis?
Recurrent infections (massively dilated + full of mucus)
Haemoptysis (severe infection causes erosion into vessels)
Pulmonary HTN + right HF
Amyloidosis
Explain the aetiology of cystic fibrosis.
Affects 1 in 2,500 live births
- Autosomal recessive (~ 1/20 of pop. heterozygous carriers)
- Chr7q3 = CFTR gene (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator) = ion transporter protein.
- Abnormality leads to defective ion transport across cell membranes leading to excessive resorption of water from secretions of exocrine glands.
- Abnormally thick mucus secretion - affects all organ systems.
What is the most common mutation causing cystic fibrosis?
Delta F508
Which organs are affected in cystic fibrosis?
GIT: Meconium ileus, malabsorption
Pancreas: Pancreatitis, secondary malabsorption
Liver: Cirrhosis
Male reproductive system: Infertility
How is the lung affected in cystic fibrosis?
Airway obstruction
Recurrent infections
Resp. failure + cor pulmonale
Haemoptysis
Pneumothorax
What are treatment options for cystic fibrosis?
Physio
Abx
Enzyme supplements
Parenteral nutrition
Lung transplantation
Define pulmonary oedema.
Accumulation of fluid in alveolar spaces as consequence of “leaky capillaries” or “backpressure” from failing left ventricle.
What is pulmonary oedema commonly associated with?
Heart failure (acute or chronic)
Common cause hospital admission + resp. failure.
List 4 causes of pulmonary oedema
- Left HF
- Alveolar injury: drugs, inhalation, infection, pancreatitis
- Neurogenic following head injury
- High altitude: altitude sickness
What is shown here? What condition is this?
Iron laden macrophages
(Haemosideren)
Pulmonary oedema: “Heart failure cells”
What is shown here? What condition is this?
Alveolar spaces full of plasma
Pulmonary oedema
What is the pathology of pulmonary oedema?
Acute: Heavy watery lungs, intra-alveolar fluid on histology
Chronic: Iron laden macrophages, fibrosis
Poor gas exchange therefore hypoxia + resp failure.
What is diffuse alveolar damage?
Pattern of acute diffuse lung injury in which patients present with rapid onset resp. failure, requiring ventilation on ITU.
CXR shows “white out” all lung fields.
What is the pathogenesis of diffuse alveolar damage?
Acute damage to endothelium +/- alveolar epithelium leading to exudative inflammatory reaction.
Diffuse alveolar damage
What is diffuse alveolar damage also known as in adults?
Acute respiratory distress syndrome “shock lung”.
Common on ITU.
List 10 causes of diffuse alveolar damage in adults
Infection (local or generalised sepsis)
Aspiration
Trauma
Inhaled irritant gases
Shock
Blood transfusion
DIC
Drug OD
Pancreatitis
Idiopathic