Vascular pathology part 1 (vasculitis) Flashcards
3 layers of the arterial wall include:
Endothelial intimal (internal elastic lamina)
Smooth muscle media (external elastic lamina)
Connective tissue adventitia (CT, nerve fibers, & vasa vasorum feeds it!)
Granulomatous/large vessel vasculitis classically involves branches of which blood vessels? Which age group/gender is this most common in?
Carotid artery & most common in older females (>50)
How does LVV/Granulomatous vasculitis present as?
1) Headache (temporal artery)
2) Visual disturbances (Opthalmic artery)
3) Jaw claudication (impaired movement)
4) Flu-like symptoms & joint pain
5) ESR is elevated
1) Headache (temporal artery)
2) Visual disturbances (Opthalmic artery)
3) Jaw claudication (impaired movement)
4) Flu-like symptoms & joint pain
5) ESR is elevated
the classic presentation of LVV/Granulomatous vasculitis
What does a biopsy of LVV/Granulomatous vasculitis show?
1) Inflamed vessel walls with giant cells & intimal fibrosis
2) Segmental lesions
What is the Rx of LVV/Granulomatous vasculitis? Without Rx what is the patient at risk of?
Corticosteroids & without Rx patient has a high risk of blindness
Blood vessel walls are made up of 3 basic components (not layers)
Endothelial cells
Smooth muscle cells
ECM (elastin, collagen, & glycosaminoglycans)
________ are principal points of physiologic resistance to blood flow.
Arterioles
Arteries of 3 types:
Large/elastic arteries
Give an example & what is the media rich in?
Aorta & its large branches
Media is rich in elastic fibers
Arteries of 3 types:
Medium/muscular arteries. Give an example & what is the media rich in?
Coronary & renal arteries
Media is rich in smooth muscle cells
Arteries of 3 types:
Small arteries/Arterioles. Where are they located?
Within the substance of tissues & organs
Inflammation:
Describe a Type II hypersensitivity
Complement mediated
Inflammation:
Describe a Type III hypersensitivity
Immune complex mediated
It’s responsible for most cases of vasculitis
Inflammation:
Describe a Type IV hypersensitivity
Cell mediated
Describe the pathophysiology of Vasculitis induced by type III hypersensitivity?
- Immune complex is deposited in BV, this activated the complement & releases C5a
- C5a recruits neutrophils which damage the endothelium causing thrombosis (narrowed lumen) leading to ischemia
Henoch-Schönlein purpura is an example of which type of vasculitis
Immune complex (III) mediated vasculitis
Describe Vasculitis induced by type IV hypersensitivity?
A delayed hypersensitivity reaction that can be involved in some types of vasculitis that have granulomas
Temporal arteritis is an example of which type of vasculitis induced by hypersensitivity reactions
Type IV hypersensitivity induced vasculitis
Rickettsia, Meningococcus, & fungus can all cause vasculitis due to
Direct invasion of a pathogen
What are two key lab findings used when looking for vasculitis?
ANCA (Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies)
ESR (Erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
How do ANCA’s cause vessel damage & how are they detected?
Seen in some small vessel vasculitis
ANCAs activate neutrophils & cause a release of enzymes of free radicals that cause vessel damage
Detected with immunofluorescence
What are the 2 types of ANCAs:
Describe Cytoplasmic (c-ANCAs)
What are the vasculitides associated with it?
Cytoplasmic (c-ANCAs) that have Ab’s against proteinase 3 in cytoplasmic granules which show cytoplasmic staining pattern
Wegners
Chrug-strauss
Microscopic polyangitis
What are the 2 types of ANCAs:
Wegener’s granulomatosis is an example of
Cytoplasmic (c-ANCAs)
What are the 2 types of ANCAs:
Describe Perinuclear (p-ANCAs)
Perinuclear (p-ANCAs) has Abs against myeloperoxidase, it shows perinuclear staining
What are the 2 types of ANCAs:
Churg-Strauss syndrome & Polyarteritis nodosa is an example of
Perinuclear (p-ANCAs) diseases
Giant cell arteritis (granulomatous) & Takayasu’s arteritis are examples of
Large vessel vasculitis
Polyarteritis nodosa, Kawasaki’s disease, & Thromboangitis obliterans are examples of
Medium vessel vasculitis
Hypersensitivity vasculitis (Henoch Schönlein purpura), Churg-Strauss syndrome, & Wegener granulomatosis are all examples of
Small vessel vasculitis
Describe the clinical representations of Large vessel vasculitis
It presents with loss of pulse
(vasculitis -> narrowed lumen -> less blood flow)
OR
Stroke (due to carotid artery involvement)
Describe the clinical representations of Medium vessel vasculitis
Presents with infarction or aneurysm (due to involvement of med arteries i.e renal, coronary, popliteal infarct damage can also lead to an aneurysm)
Describe the clinical representations of Small vessel vasculitis
Presents with palpable purpura
What are general warning signs of vasculitis
Fever, Weight loss, malaise, & myalgias
What’s the disease?
Temporal arteritis look for:
- Prominent temporal artery
- Biopsy shows multinucleated giant cells (granulomatous vasculitis)
Old female patient
Presentation:
Headache in the temporal region
Pain in the jaw while chewing
Muscle aches and pains
Develops problems with vision.
Exam & labs:
Nodular and palpable temporal artery.
Elevated ESR
Biopsy:
Granulomatous inflammation & giant cells
What is the diagnosis?
Giant cell (temporal) arteritis
Describe the following aspects of Giant cell (temporal) arteritis
- Presentation (key points)
- Exam/labs
- Biopsy
Usually an older female patient
Presentation:
Headache in the temporal region
Pain in the jaw while chewing
Muscle aches and pains
Develops problems with vision.
Exam & labs:
Nodular and palpable temporal artery.
Elevated ESR
Biopsy:
Granulomatous inflammation & giant cells
Describe the pathology of Giant cell arteritis
The vessels tend to be cord-like & show nodular thickening
Describe the microscopy of Giant cell arteritis
- Focal granulomatous inflammation of the temporal artery
- Fragmented internal elastic lamina
- Giant cell
Describe the findings in the histo slide & the likely diagnosis
The Elastic tissue stain shows a section of a temporal artery with:
- Focal destruction of the internal elastic membrane & Intimal thickening (characteristic of long-standing/healed arteritis)
Diagnosis: Temporal (giant cell) arteritis
- Temporal/unilateral headaches (near the TA)
- Painful/Palpably enlarged temporal artery
- Generalized muscle ache/stiffness
- Temporary/permanent blindness (Opthalmic artery)
- Jaw Claudication
Key indicators of which condition?
Giant cell temporal arteritis
Describe the lab findings of Giant cell (temporal) arteritis
- Elevated ESR
How often is a temporal artery biopsy positive?
Approximately 60% of cases
This X-ray is indicative of to numerous areas of constriction in the subclavian arteries, patient likely has absent or very weak pulses in the upper extremities. What is the likely diagnosis?
Takayasu’s arteritis
Middle aged Asian woman
Presentation:
- Visual disturbances
- Decreased BP in upper extremity
- Absent/very weak pulses in upper extremities
Exams/labs:
- Narrowed aortic arch vessels on angiography
Biopsy:
- Granulomatous inflammation with giant cells
Diagnosis?
Takayasu’s arteritis (aka pulseless disease)
Describe the following aspects of Takayasu’s arteritis
- Presentation (key points)
- Exam/labs
- Biopsy
Usually middle aged Asian women
Presentation:
- Visual disturbances
- Decreased BP in upper extremity
- Absent/very weak pulses in upper extremities
Exams/labs:
- Narrowed aortic arch vessels on angiography
Biopsy:
- Granulomatous inflammation with giant cells
What are the key differences between Giant cell (temporal) arteritis & Takayasu’s arteritis?
GCTA:
- Older women (over 50)
Takayasu’s Arteritis:
- Middle aged Asian women (under 50)
What arteries does Takayasu’s arteritis typically involve?
Usually the aorta & aortic arch vessels (carotids, subclavian, pulmonary, renal, & coronary)
Granulomatous inflammation/vasculitis is due to what type of hypersensitivity reaction?
Type IV hypersensitivity reaction
What are the findings in the following histological view? What’s the diagnosis?
- Destruction of the arterial media via mononuclear inflammation with giant cells
Diagnosis: Takayasu’s arteritis
Describe the pathophysiology of Takayasu’s arteritis
Thickening of the vessels (the aorta & its branches) with narrowing (stenosis) of the lumen causing less blood flow
Describe the key clinical findings of Takayasu’s arteritis
- Dizziness
- Syncope (fainting)
- Absent upper extremity pulse
- Blood pressure discrepancy (low upper extremity BP)
- Visual disturbance
What is the crucial test to find Takayasu’s
Angiography
- Dizziness
- Syncope (fainting)
- Absent upper extremity pulse
- Blood pressure discrepancy (low upper extremity BP)
- Visual disturbance
Describes which condition?
Takayasu’s arteritis
Young male IV drug abuser with a history of HBV
Presentation:
- Hypertension
- Abdominal pain
- Melena (black/tarry stools)
- Muscle aches/pains
- Skin nodulations
Exams/labs:
- HBsAg +ve
- pANCA +ve
Biopsy:
- Segmental transmural inflammation with fibrinoid necrosis (Blood vessels)
Diagnosis:?
Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN)
Describe the following aspects of PAN arteritis
- Presentation (key points)
- Exam/labs
- Biopsy
Young male IV drug abuser with a history of HBV
Presentation:
- Hypertension
- Abdominal pain
- Melena (black/tarry stools)
- Muscle aches/pains
- Skin nodulations
Exams/labs:
- HBsAg +ve
- pANCA +ve
Biopsy:
- Segmental transmural inflammation with fibrinoid necrosis (Blood vessels)
Describe the pathophysiology of Polyarteritis nodosa
It involves multiple medium sized vessels & it’s associated with segmental transmural inflammation of the vessel walls. This weakens the wall focally which causes dilation (aneurysm) that are responsible for the nodules on the skin
A systemic disease that affects medium & small sized muscular arteries (i.e kidney, heart, liver, GIT, & skin NOT the lungs) with a strong association to HBV antigenemia hypersensitivity to drugs (ex IV amphetamines)
Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN)
Polyarteritis nodosa is mediated by which type of Hypersensitivity reaction?
Type III hypersensitivity (Immune complex deposition via HBsAg/anti-HBsAg)
The histological slide shows what? What is the likely diagnosis?
- Fibrinoid necrosis & disruption of the vessel wall
- Neutrophil infiltrates
Likely diagnosis: Polyarteritis
The histological slide shows what? What is the likely diagnosis?
- Segmental fibrinoid necrosis & thrombotic occlusion of the lumen of a small artery
- Transmural inflammation (all layers)
Diagnosis: Polyarteritis nodosa
Describe the consequences of thrombosis & Weakened focal BV wall in Polyarteritis nodosa
Thrombosis = Infarction
Weakened vessel wall = Aneurysms (Kidney, heart, & Gi)
What are the key findings in the target organs (Kidneys, GI, skin, & Coronary arteries) of Polyarteritis nodosa?
Ischemic damage:
Kidneys = Vasculitis/infarction causes hypertension, hematuria, & albuminuria
GI tract = Bowel infarction causes abdominal pain & melena
Skin = Ischemic ulcers & nodules
Coronary arteries = Aneurysms & MI
What is the most common cause of death in Polyarteritis nodosa?
Renal failure due to MC COD
Describe the common lab findings in Polyarteritis nodosa
- HbsAg +ve in 30% of cases
- Hematuria with RBC casts
What is the Rx of Polyarteritis nodosa? What is a major complication if it’s left untreated?
Rx: Corticosteroids & Cyclophosphamide
Untreated = Almost fatal
Describe the key pathological findings of Churg-Strauss syndrome
A variant of PAN it’s a systematic vasculitis that happens in people with asthma (small & medium BVs)
- Inflammation of the vessel wall (lots of eosinophils
- Fibrinoid necrosis
- Thrombosis & infarction
A variant of PAN it’s a systematic vasculitis that happens in people with asthma (small & medium BVs)
- Inflammation of the vessel wall (lots of eosinophils
- Fibrinoid necrosis
- Thrombosis & infarction
Describes which condition?
Churg-Stauss syndrome
What’s the Rx for Churg-Strauss syndrome?
Corticosteroids