Pulmonary Hypertension Flashcards
Question 1:
What is pulmonary hypertension, and what is the defining value for mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in this condition?
Answer:
Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure within the pulmonary circulation.
The defining value for mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in pulmonary hypertension is ≥ 25 mmHg.
Question 2:
Differentiate between pulmonary hypertension and systemic hypertension.
Answer:
- Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure within the pulmonary circulation, while
- systemic hypertension is high blood pressure within the systemic circulation.
Question 3:
What is Type I Pulmonary Artery Hypertension, and what are its key characteristics?
Answer:
- Type I Pulmonary Artery Hypertension is characterized by super vasoconstriction in the pulmonary vessels, leading to very high pulmonary vascular resistance.
- This results in an increase in mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP ≥ 25 mmHg) and puts strain on the right heart, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy and eventually right heart failure.
Question 4:
What are the factors responsible for intense vasoconstriction in Type I Pulmonary Artery Hypertension?
Answer:
- intense vasoconstriction is caused by endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor produced by endothelial cells.
- ET-1 causes smooth muscle contraction, leading to decreased vessel diameter, increased vasoconstriction, and increased peripheral vascular resistance.
Question 5:
What are the factors responsible for decreased vasodilation in Type I Pulmonary Artery Hypertension?
Answer:
* result of reduced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2).
- Both NO and PGI2 act on smooth muscle and cause relaxation, increasing vessel diameter and decreasing peripheral vascular resistance.
Question 6:
What are the etiological factors for Type I Pulmonary Artery Hypertension?
Answer:
(i) Idiopathic (most common, diagnosed by exclusion)
(ii) Hereditary - caused by the BMRR2 gene, leading to increased ET-1 production and decreased NO and PGI2 production
(iii) Connective tissue diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and scleroderma
(iv) HIV (mechanism not well-known)
(v) Porto-pulmonary hypertension, often seen in patients with cirrhosis, where liver failure leads to vasoactive molecules not being cleared, causing vasoconstriction and decreased vasodilation.
(vi) Left-to-right shunts, especially observed in infants with large ventricular septal defects (VSD), atrial septal defects (ASD), and patent foramen ovale.
Question 1:
What are the two primary pathophysiological changes in pulmonary hypertension?
Answer:
increased vasoconstriction processes and decreased vasodilation processes.
Question 2:
What is the consequence of increased peripheral vascular resistance in pulmonary hypertension?
Answer:
Increased peripheral vascular resistance in pulmonary hypertension leads to an increase in pulmonary artery pressure.
Question 3:
How does pulmonary hypertension affect the right heart?
Answer:
Pulmonary hypertension puts strain on the right heart, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy and eventually right heart failure.
Question 4:
List the different causes of pulmonary hypertension.
Answer:
(i) Idiopathic (most common)
(ii) Hereditary
(iii) Connective tissue diseases
(iv) HIV
(v) Porto-pulmonary hypertension
(vi) Left-to-right shunting
Question 5:
What is Type II Pulmonary Artery Hypertension, and what are its common causes?
Answer:
- Type II Pulmonary Artery Hypertension is caused by left heart disease, including conditions such as left heart failure and valvular heart disease.
Question 6:
What is the pathophysiological mechanism behind Type II Pulmonary Artery Hypertension?
Answer:
- In Type II Pulmonary Artery Hypertension, left heart disease causes an increase in pulmonary venous backflow from the left heart into the pulmonary vein.
- This leads to congestion in the pulmonary venous circulation, increasing pulmonary artery pressure and straining the right heart, ultimately resulting in right ventricular hypertrophy and right heart failure.
Question 7:
Which lung diseases are associated with Type III Pulmonary Artery Hypertension?
Answer:
Type III Pulmonary Artery Hypertension is associated with underlying lung diseases, including:
(i) COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
(ii) Interstitial lung disease
(iii) Obstructive sleep apnea
(iv) Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
Question 8:
Explain the pathophysiological process of Type III Pulmonary Artery Hypertension in patients with lung diseases.
Answer:
- In Type III Pulmonary Artery Hypertension, inadequate ventilation in multiple lung parenchymal areas leads to hypoxic vasoconstriction.
- This causes pulmonary vessels to constrict, resulting in increased pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary artery pressure.
- The right heart is strained, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy and eventual right heart failure.
Question 1:
What are the key characteristics of Type IV Pulmonary Artery Hypertension, and what is its primary cause?
Answer:
- Type IV Pulmonary Artery Hypertension is characterized by an increase in peripheral vascular resistance due to chronic pulmonary emboli (distal blood clots).
- Unlike Type III, which is due to hypoxia, Type IV’s increased vascular resistance is caused by clots obstructing blood flow.
Question 2:
Explain the difference between vasoconstriction in Type I and Type IV Pulmonary Artery Hypertension.
Answer:
In Type I Pulmonary Artery Hypertension, vasoconstriction is due to increased levels of endothelin-1, while in Type IV, vasoconstriction occurs due to clots obstructing blood flow.
Question 3:
Which lung diseases are associated with Type V Pulmonary Artery Hypertension?
Answer:
Type V Pulmonary Artery Hypertension is associated with lung diseases such as sarcoidosis, where granulomas compress the pulmonary vessels, and mediastinal tumors (e.g., tracheal, bronchial tumor, lymphoma) that compress the pulmonary artery.
Question 4:
How does Type V Pulmonary Artery Hypertension affect the right heart?
Answer:
Type V Pulmonary Artery Hypertension increases pulmonary artery pressure, putting strain on the right heart, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy, and eventually, right heart failure.
Question 5:
Summarize the primary causes and key characteristics of each type of Pulmonary Artery Hypertension.
Answer:
Type I: Idiopathic, increased vasoconstrictors (endothelin-1), decreased vasodilators (NO and PGI2).
Type II: Left heart disease, resulting in pulmonary venous backflow congestion.
Type III: Lung diseases causing hypoxic vasoconstriction.
Type IV: Chronic pulmonary emboli leading to increased peripheral vascular resistance due to clots.
Type V: Sarcoidosis or mediastinal tumors compressing the pulmonary artery.
Question 1:
What are the classic clinical features of right heart failure in patients with pulmonary hypertension?
Answer:
- Jugular venous distention due to blood backing up into the superior vena cava and jugular vein.
- Ascites and hepatomegaly due to blood backing up into the liver through the inferior vena cava.
- Pedal edema caused by blood accumulating in the interstitial spaces of the lower extremities.
Question 2:
How do auscultation findings differ between patients with systemic hypertension and pulmonary hypertension?
Answer:
- In patients with systemic hypertension, severe hypertension causes the aortic valve to snap hard, leading to a loud second heart sound (S2) with a particularly pronounced A2 component.
- In contrast, in patients with pulmonary hypertension, the high pulmonary pressure causes the pulmonary valve to close quickly during diastole, resulting in a loud S2 with a particularly pronounced P2 component.
Question 3:
What is the primary cause of exertional dyspnea in patients with pulmonary hypertension?
Answer:
- Exertional dyspnea in patients with pulmonary hypertension is primarily due to the high pulmonary artery pressure,
- which leads to reduced blood flow through the pulmonary arterial circulation and decreased delivery of oxygen to the left heart,
- resulting in less left ventricular cardiac output and decreased oxygen delivery to the tissues.
Question 4:
Why may patients with pulmonary hypertension experience exertional syncope?
Answer:
- Patients with pulmonary hypertension may experience exertional syncope due to inadequate oxygen delivery to the brain tissue during exertion, resulting from the high pulmonary artery pressure and reduced cardiac output.
Question 5:
What is the most common exertional symptom in patients with pulmonary hypertension?
Answer:
Exertional dyspnea often leading to misdiagnosis as chronic heart failure or coronary artery disease.
Question 1:
What are the typical symptoms that should raise suspicion for pulmonary artery hypertension?
Answer:
* exertional dyspnea, exertional syncope, and exertional angina.
- Additionally, evidence of right heart failure due to high pulmonary pressure, such as right ventricular hypertrophy, should be considered.
Question 2:
What are the key classification criteria used to differentiate types of pulmonary artery hypertension?
Answer:
Type I: Increased vasoconstrictors and decreased vasodilators.
Type II: Left heart disease.
Type III: Lung disease.
Type IV: Chronic pulmonary emboli.
Type V: Compression due to mediastinal tumor or sarcoidosis.