Pathology- Thrombosis, Embolism, Infarction Flashcards
what is ischaemia?
insufficient blood supply
what is infarction?
death of tissue as a result of ischaemia
what is thrombosis
the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood
what is embolism
the blockage of an artery by an embolus (foreign body e.g. blood clot (mass of coagulant), air bubble etc)
what is atheroma also known as
atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, coronary heart disease, ischaemic heart disease
atheroma is the principle cause of death and disability in the western world true or false
true
what are the aetiology of atheroma
smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, age (older), sex (males), genetics
what causes primary endothelial injury
smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, immune factors, toxins, viruses, turbulent blood flow
what does increased LDL and reduced HDL - or - increased V-CAM, IL-1 or TNF expression lead to
accumulation of lipids and macrophages
what causes the migration of smooth muscle cells
PDGF (platelet derived growth factor), FGF (fibroblast growth factor), TGF beta (transforming growth factor)
what are foam cells
dead macrophages containing consumed LDL
what surrounds the fatty streak
fibrous cap (collagen fibres) and damaged endothelium
what happens to atheromatous plaques over time
progress and become complicated
fatty streak- fibrofatty plaque- complicated plaque (with overlying thrombus)
further loss of luminal potency and arterial wall weakness
under what circumstances (3) is atheromatous narrowing of an artery likely to produce critical disease
it is the only artery supply a tissue/organ
small artery diameter
overall blood flow is reduced
what are the complications of atheroma
stenosis, thrombosis, aneurysm, dissection, embolism
what is stenosis and what does it lead to
narrowing of the arterial lumen,
reduced elasticity,
reduced flow in systole,
tissue ischaemia
what are the clinical effects of cardiac ischaemia
reduced exercise tolerance
angina
unstable angina
myocardial infarction
cardiac failure
describe cardiac fibrosis and what it causes
loss of cardiac myocytes- replacement by fibrous tissue
loss of contractility, reduced elasticity and filling
can arterial stenosis affect any artery
yes
what can arterial stenosis in carotid arteries cause
TIA, stroke and vascular dementia (reduction in cognitive skills due to reduction in blood flow to brain)
what can arterial stenosis cause when in the renal arteries
hypertension and renal failure
what can arterial stenosis cause when in the peripheral arteries
claudication (cramping in lower leg due to insufficient blood supply) and foot/leg ischaemia
what does superadded
to add in a way that compounds the effect
what are the clinical effects of thrombosis
infarctions; myocardial cerebral renal intestinal
what is an aneurysm
Abnormal and persistent dilatation of an artery due to a weakness in its wall
what are the types of aneurysm
mycotic (fungus) atherosclerotic dissecting congenital arteriovenous traumatic syphillitic
where is the most common site for an aneurysm
abdominal aorta
what are the complications of an aneurysm
rupture, thrombosis, embolism, pressure erosion of adjacent structures, infection
what is an arterial dissection
splitting within the media by flowing blood
what are the risk factors for arterial dissection
middle age +/- atheroma
what is a false lumen
filling of blood inbetween tunica intima and media
what can artial dissection cause
sudden collapse, high mortality
what conditions are associated with aortic dissection
atheroma, hypertension, trauma, coarctation, marfan’s, pregnancy
what are the usual consequences caused by embolis
cerebral infarct
renal infarct and renal failure
lower limb infarction
describe the structure of athero-embolism
cholesterol clefts within embolic material