Session 9 Flashcards
What is heart failure?
A state in which the heart fails to maintain an adequate circulation for the needs of the body despite an adequate filling pressure
Failure of the pump action of the heart
What is the primary cause of systolic heart failure?
ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE
Apart from ischaemic heart disease, what are some other causes of heart failure?
Hypertension Dilated cardiomyopathy Valve disease Pericardial disease Arrhythmias - e.g. persistent tachycardia High-output heart failure
What happens in high-output heart failure?
Heart can’t keep up with the amount of cardiac output the body needs
How can arrhythmias (persistent tachycardia) cause heart failure?
Persistent tachycardia —> Changes in structure of the heart —> Failure of pump action —> Heart failure
How is heart failure progression classified by the NYHA functional classification?
Class I - Class IV
In which classes of the NYHA functional classification of heart failure is there no symptoms at rest?
Classes I-III (class IV may have symptoms at rest)
Heart failure is classified by the NYHA functional classification based on the occurrence/absence of symptoms due to different levels of…
Physical activity
What is the typical…
I) cardiac output II) stroke volume III) LV ESV IV) LV EDV V) Ejection fraction
5 litres/min
75 ml/beat
75 ml
150 ml
50% +
State 4 factors influencing cardiac output
Heart Rate
Venous Capacity (LV preload)
Aortic & Peripheral Impedance (afterload)
Myocardial Contractility
How can heart rate affect cardiac output?
Increasing heart rate, increases cardiac output up until a certain point
What functional and structural changes are seen in left ventricular systolic dysfunction?
Increased LV capacity —> Reduced LV cardiac output
Thinning of the myocardial wall (fibrosis/necrosis)
LV dilated
How can left ventricular systolic dysfunction affect the mitral valve?
LV dilation leads to cusps of valves being pulled apart and incompetence of the mitral valve
Describe the structural heart changes seen in heart failure (3)
Loss of muscle
Changes to the ECM (increased type III collagen)
Change of cell structure/function (e.g. Myocyte hypertrophy)
How can the structural heart changes seen in heart failure affect myocardial contraction?
Results in uncoordinated/abnormal myocardial contraction
Describe the ventricular remodelling that occurs in…
I) diastolic heart failure
II) systolic heart failure
Hypertrophied heart
Dilated heart
Describe the ventricular remodelling seen after acute infarction
Global remodelling and scarring to protect damaged areas
Describe the early role of the sympathetic nervous system (baroreceptor-mediated response) in heart failure
Works to improve cardiac output by increased contractility, HR (tachycardia) and arterial and venous vasoconstriction
What long term deleterious effects can activation of the sympathetic nervous system in heart failure have?
B-adrenoceptors become down-regulated/uncoupled
Noradrenaline induces cardiac hypertrophy, apoptosis and necrosis via a-adrenoreceptors
Noradrenaline induces up-regulation of the RAAS
State long term deleterious effects of activation of the sympathetic nervous system in heart failure, with regards to the increased noradrenaline levels
Induces cardiac hypertrophy, myocyte apoptosis, myocyte necrosis via a-adrenoreceptors
How can sympathetic nervous stimulation (in the long term) seen in heart failure affect the variability of the heart rate
Reduction in heart rate variability
Where is angiotensinogen produced?
Liver
Angiotensinogen is clever to _______________ by the action of __________
Angiotensin I
Renin
Angiotensin I is clever to __________________ by the action of ___________________
Angiotensin II
ACE - angiotensin converting enzyme
Angiotensin I and II can both be used to produce angiotensin III by the action of…
NEP
Angiotensin II carries out its effects via which receptors?
AT1 receptors (type 1) AT2 receptors (type 2)
Which receptors does angiotensin III act on?
Type 2 receptors
Which angiotensin II receptors lead to more beneficial effects for a patient?
Type 2 receptors
What effect can activation of the angiotensin II receptors have?
Vasodilator effect by increasing NO levels