Week 2 - Pathological Mechanisms Flashcards
What is pathology?
Study of disease
What is a disease?
- Abnormality of cell/tissue structure &/or function
- Loss of homeostasis
What is another name for the mechanisms?
Pathogenesis
What are the 7 categories to consider in pathology?
- Broad patterns- epidemiology
- Causes- aetiology
- Pathogenesis
- Nature of disease
- Complications- sequelae
- Clinical presentation
- Clinical management
What are the 4 levels of magnification in pathology?
- Gross (naked-eye)
- Light microscopy
- Electron microscopy
- Molecular cell biology
What are the levels of organisation in pathology?
Body –> System –> Organ –> Tissue –> Cell –> Molecules
Describe the 3 processing in making protein?
- DNA polymerase: replication (DNA –> DNA)
- RNA polymerase: transcription (DNA –> RNA)
- Ribosome: translation (RNA –> Protein)
What are the 3 normal cellular processes?
- Cell proliferation
- Cell growth & differentiation (specialist function)
- Cell death
What are the 6 broad tissue types?
- Epithelial
- Connective tissue
- Haemato-lymphoid
- Neuro-glial
- Melanocytic
- Germ cell
What are the 3 broad tissue types for epithelia?
- Squamous
- Glandular
- Solid organs ie. liver, kidney, thyroid
What are the 6 broad tissue types for connective tissue?
- Fibrous
- Blood vessel
- Fat
- Muscle
- Bone
- Cartilage
What is disease a combination of?
The causative agent & the body’s response to it
Describe homeostasis in normal cells?
- Achieved through normal cell biological mechanisms
- Usually sense & easily adjust to mild environmental changes
What are some external environmental changes (stresses)?
- Physical factors
- Chemical factors
- Infection
- Nutrition, etc
What are some internal environmental changes (stresses)?
- More/less functional demand
- Hormones/metabolic
- Immune response, etc
Define cell Atrophy?
Smaller/fewer cells
Define cell hyperplasia?
More cells
Define cell hypertrophy?
Bigger cells
Define cell metaplasia?
Change from 1 mature differentiated cell type to another
Define cell dysplasia?
Abnormal genetic changes which may lead to cancer
When does cell adaptation occur?
If environmental change (stress) is more than can be dealt with by homeostasis, then affected cell may undergo further adaptation esp. changes in cell growth (more, less, different)
When may the cells undergo injury?
If the stress is more intense, longer-lasting or of a specific type, or if the cell is very sensitive
What 2 things can cells undergo if they are directly affected?
- Sub-lethal cell injury
2. Cell death
How does the body respond to cell injury?
Inflammation (acute/chronic)
What can happen to cells affected by injury over many years?
Neoplasia
List the cell process from normal to cell death?
Normal –> Cell with adaptation –> Cell with reversible injury –> Cell with irreversible injury –> Cell death
What does the mnemonic VITAMIN CDEF stand for in the possible categories of disease?
Vascular, Infective/ Inflammatory, Traumatic, Autoimmune, Metabolic, Iatrogenic/ Idiopathic, Neoplastic, Congenital, Degenerative/ Developmental, Endocrine/ Environmental & Functional
Describe the 4 types of physical agents which can cause disease?
- Mechanical trauma: stricture, adhesions, hernia, criminal
- Temperature extremes: heat or cold
- Ionising radiation: causes DNA damage
- Electric shock
What can chemicals/ drugs do?
May damage various cell organelles & processes ie. disruption of cell membranes (osmotic damage), protein production or folding
What are the 4 types of chemicals/drugs that can cause disease?
- Drugs e.g. chemotherapy (cytotoxic by
definition) , paracetamol - Poisons (cyanide)
- Environmental (insecticides)
- Occupational hazards (asbestos)
What are the 2 possible causes of hypoxia?
- Anaemia
2. Respiratory failure
What does hypoxia cause?
Disrupts oxidative respiratory processes (in mitochondria) in cell & decreases ATP
Define ischaemia?
Reduction in blood supply to tissue
What is ischaemia caused by?
Blockage of arterial supply or venous drainage e.g. atherosclerosis
What is ischaemia a depletion of what two things?
Oxygen & Nutrients (glucose)
Describe the immunological reaction anaphylaxis?
Type 1 hypersensitivity: IgE mediated
Describe the immunological reaction auto-immune reactions?
- Type 2: antibodies directed towards antigens on cells
- Type 3: antigen-antibody complexes and their deposition
Describe how genetic defects can cause disease?
- Abnormalities of gene structure or number (too many or too few)
- Leads to abnormal protein or to too much or not enough protein
Give 2 examples of genetic defects leading to disease?
- Sickle cell anaemia: abnormal haemoglobin chain
2. Inborn error of metabolism (lack of enzyme causes build up of enzyme substrate)
What are the 5 questions to ask when describing pathology specimens (gross or microscopic)?
- What is the magnification (low vs. high power image)?
- What is the organ/tissue?
- And/or how & what is sampled?
- Normal/abnormal?
- If abnormal, describe (including whether it is focal or diffuse)?
What are the 4 questions to ask when describing pathology specimens (gross)?
- Size?
- Shape?
- Colour?
- Texture?
How you would describe microscopic pathology specimens?
- If not sure, consider which tissues are present, where, & whether normal or abnormal
- Abnormalities quantitative or qualitative
- Go through systematically first if no obvious abnormality, to ensure nothing missed
Why should you establish disease diagnosis & severity?
Predict outcome (prognosis) & guide treatment
Describe inflammation?
- Universal response to tissue damage
- Can be acute or chronic, continuum
What 3 things can inflammatory damage be caused by?
- Infection
- Necrosis
- Trauma
What is the purpose of inflammation?
Destroy or control the harmful stimulus, initiate repair & restore function
What 4 things does the inflammatory process also have a role in?
- Autoimmune disease
- Atheroma
- Cancer progression
- Treatment
Describe how vascular dilatation occurs?
- Arterioles dilate increasing blood flow
- Stasis of blood flow
- Fluid passes into tissues causing swelling
What 3 chemical mediators are involved in vascular dilatation?
- Histamine (mast cells)
- Prostaglandins
- NO
What 3 chemical mediators are involved in neutrophil activation?
- C5a
- Leukotriene B4
- Bacterial products
Describe how neutrophil activation occurs?
- Activation of neutrophils
- Rolling, adhesion, pass between endothelial cells
- Chemotaxis
- Phagocytosis & bactericidal
What 6 chemical mediators are involved in endothelial activation?
- 5-HT
- Histamine
- C3a
- C5a
- Bradykinin
- Leukotriene
Describe how endothelial activation occurs?
- Activates vascular endothelium
- Increased cell adhesion molecules –> leakiness of endothelium
- Plasma proteins travel into tissues including Immumoglobulins, Complement, Fibrinogen
What are the 3 vascular & cell changes that occur in acute inflammation?
- Vascular dilatation
- Neutrophil activation
- Endothelial activation
What are the 5 clinical signs of acute inflammation?
- Redness: caused by hyperaemia
- Swelling: caused by fluid exudate & hyperaemia
- Heat: caused by hyperaemia
- Pain: caused by release of bradykinin & PGE2
- Loss of function
What are the 3 different exudates that you get with inflammation?
- Neutrophilic (suppurative/purulent)
- Fibrinous
- Serous
What are 4 factors which lead to a spread of infection?
- Natural barriers
- Air borne
- Blood borne
- Immune factors (IgA)
What 3 things can result from acute inflammation?
- Resolution
- Healing by repair
- Chronic inflammation
What clinical sign can form in acute inflammation?
Abscess
What results in chronic inflammation?
Persisting tissue damage & ongoing acute inflammation or de novo
What are 3 cell infiltrates present in chronic inflammation?
- Lymphocytes
- Macrophages
- Plasma cells
What 2 things does chronic inflammation usually lead to?
- Fibrosis
2. Scarring
What is a subtype of chronic inflammation?
Granulomatous inflammation (specific histological appearance)
What is Granulomatous inflammation?
Presence of granulomas, collections of epithelioid macrophages & multinucleate giant cells
What are the 3 subtypes of Granulomatous inflammation?
- Necrotising
- Non-necrotising
- Foreign body granulomas
What are the 2 types of wound healing?
- Primary intention (simple incision, easy healing & less obvious scarring)
- Secondary intention (dirty, infected, gaping wound with more obvious scarring)
Describe granulation tissue in healing?
Early blood vessels which grow in the inflammed wound
Does a primary or secondary intention wound have more granulation tissue during healing?
Secondary intention has more
What is involved in wound healing leading to fibrous scarring?
Inflammatory cells & Fibrin –> Fibrous scar
Describe how bone heals?
Regeneration rather than repair, callus (has osteoblasts & osteoclasts) formation
Give 4 reasons why we should perform a post mortem in the 21st century?
- Confirming diagnosis/ its extent (audit of medical care)
- Revealing diagnosis or explaining unexplainable findings (diagnostic tool)
- Investigating possible failings in surgery or other medical care (monitor medical care)
- Medico-legal reasons (crime, violence, suicide etc)
Describe a Medico-legal post mortem?
- At the instruction of the Procurator Fiscal (Scotland) or Coroner (England and Wales)
- Does not require consent of the family
What are forensic pathologists & what do they perform?
Sub-speciality within pathology who perform post mortem’s required in certain circumstances e.g. homicide
What are the 2 types of background information needed from medical notes for post mortem examinations?
- Past medical history
2. Summary of clinical events & treatment
What are the 2 types of autopsy information needed for post mortem examinations?
- External examination
- general appearances, external disease, medical treatment - Internal examination
- body cavities & systems, organs examined in turn
What are the 2 further investigations for post mortem examinations?
- Histology, neuropathology
2. Bacteriology, biochemistry etc.
Describe the external examination done during post mortem’s?
- Identification of deceased by pathologist
- Height/weight/BMI
- Skin/hair/eye colour
What 3 things should you look for in an external examination during post mortem’s?
- Iatrogenic: Scars, drains, IV lines
- Evidence of trauma
- Jaundice, cyanosis, finger clubbing, oedema, lymphadenopathy
Describe Evisceration in post mortem’s (internal examination)?
- Single incision from sternal notch to symphysis pubis to remove thoracic, abdominal & pelvic organs
- 2nd incision around post skull to reflect the scalp, skull is opened & brain removed
Who usually performs a Evisceration?
Anatomical pathology technicians
What happens at the end of the post mortem examination?
- Organs returned to body (minus tissue taken for microscopic assessment)
- If no death certificate has been issued, pathologist will write a death certificate
- Report sent to the PF, or for ‘consented/’Hospital’’ cases, to the patient’s GP & clinician
- Body reconstructed to permit viewing
- Body released for burial/cremation
Describe the layout of the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD)?
1a. Disease or condition directly leading to death
1b. Due to, or as a consequence of,
1c. Due to, or as a consequence of,
1d. Due, to or as a consequence of,
2. Other significant conditions contributing to death, but not related to the disease or condition causing it
What are the 5 most frequently occurring principal causes of death, all ages, Scotland, 3 year period in 2012-2014?
- Malignant neoplasm of bronchus & lung
- Acute MI
- Chronic ischaemic heart disease
- Other chronic obstructuve pulmonary disease
- Unspecified dementia
What 2 factors would you look for during a post mortem for thrombosis & infarction (vascular pathology)?
- Thrombus in coronary artery
2. Dead (necrotic) muscle
What are the 2 potential outcomes for an MI?
- Sudden death from arrhythmia or acute left ventricular failure
OR - Cardiac rupture through weakened necrotic muscle
Where else, apart from the heart, can you encounter thrombosis & infarction?
- Small bowel infarction due to superior mesenteric artery thrombosis
- Cerebral infarct
What is an embolus?
A mass of material that can move through the vascular system & is capable of blocking the lumen
What 4 sites can an embolus arise from?
- Thrombus
- Air
- Fat
- Amniotic fluid
What 3 sites can a thrombus arise from?
- Leg veins
- Carotid arteries
- Inside the heart
What 3 sites can a thrombus embolus to?
- Lungs
- Brain
- Other tissues
What are the 4 reasons why a blood vessel can rupture leading to haemorrhage?
- Under high pressure
- Congenital weakness (due to lack of elastic fibres)
- Weakened by disease
- Eroded into
What is a berry aneurysm?
Subarachnoid haemorrhage from rupture of cerebral artery aneurysm
What can erode a blood vessel leading to a rupture?
Ulcer
Describe lobar pneumonia?
- Spread through blood
- Largely confined to 1 lobe
- Lung is a grey colour (grey hepatisation)
- Severe illness
Describe bronchopneumonia?
- Spread through airways
- Tends to be more generalised
- Often develops on top of chronic lung disease
- Often terminal event in debilitated patients
What is endocarditis?
Infection of the heart valves
What is pyonephrosis?
Pus in the collecting system of the kidneys
Describe Meningococcus infection?
- Inhaling droplets from carrier
- Often previously healthy individual
- Often rapid illness (< 24hrs)
- Can occur in close communities
Describe pneumococcus infection?
- Usually from infection in the lungs
- More common in debilitated people
e. g. alcoholics - Less rapid illness
Describe the post mortem appearance of peritonitis?
- Purulent exudate
- Reddening
- Purulent fluid (pus)
Give 2 examples of chronic inflammation & what caused them?
- Pulmonary fibrosis (from asbestos)
- Liver cirrhosis (from alcohol)
Describe Alzheimers disease?
- Degenerative disease
- Atrophy more pronounced in the frontal & parietal lobes
What are the 3 normal reactions to vessel injury?
- Vasoconstriction
- Platelet release & aggregation
- Coagulation cascade
What does vasoconstriction result in?
Primary haemostatic plug –> Stable haemostatic plug
What does the coagulation cascade result in?
Thrombin –> Fibrin –> Stable haemostatic plug
What is the function of von Willebrand factor in primary homeostasis?
Binding to other proteins, in particular factor VIII & is important in platelet adhesion to wound sites
What is the coagulation pathway triggered by?
Tissue factor (TF)/factor VIIa complex
What does tissue factor (TF)/factor VIIa complex activate in the coagulation pathway?
Factor IX & Factor X
What does activated factor IX do in the coagulation pathway?
Coverts small amounts of prothrombin to thrombin which amplifies coagulation by activating factors V & VIII, platelets & platelet-bound factor XI
When is the coagulation pathway propagated?
Factor IXa binds to factor VIIIa on the surface of activated platelets, forming intrinsic tenase
What does intrinsic tenase activate in the coagulation pathway?
Factor X
What does activated factor X do in the coagulation pathway?
Binds to activated factor V to form prothrombinase, which converts prothrombin (Factor II) to thrombin (Factor IIa)
What happens in the final step of the coagulation pathway?
Thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin
In Virchow’s Triad what are the 3 broad factors that are thought to contribute to thrombosis?
- Hypercoagulable state
- Vascular wall injury
- Circulatory stasis
List 8 factors that could cause the hypercoagulable state in Virchow’s Triad?
- Malignancy
- Pregnancy
- Oestrogen therapy
- Trauma/surgery of lower extremity, hip, abdomen or pelvis
- IBD
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Sepsis
- Thrombophilia
List 6 factors that could cause vascular wall injury in Virchow’s triad?
- Trauma/surgery
- Venepuncture
- Chemical irritation
- Heart valve disease/ replacement
- Atherosclerosis
- Indwelling catheters
List 5 factors that could cause circulatory stasis in Virchow’s triad?
- AF
- Left ventricular dysfunction
- Immobility/paralysis
- Venous insufficiency/ varicose veins
- Venous obstruction from tumour, obesity or pregnancy
Describe the histopathology of arterial thrombosis?
- “White thrombus”
- Many platelets, small amounts of fibrin
- High flow rate
Describe the histopathology of venous thrombosis?
- “Red thrombus”
- Many fibrin with trapped red cell
- Slow/stagnant flow rate
What can be the 4 categories for differential diagnosis of a sore leg?
- Trauma
- Non-traumatic
- Vascular
- Skin/soft tissue infection
List the trauma causes of a sore leg?
- Fractures
- Dislocations
- Muscle strain/rupture
- Haematoma
List the Non-traumatic causes of a sore leg?
- MSK
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Septic arthritis
- Gout
- Popliteal cyst
- Bursitis
List the skin/soft tissue causes of a sore leg?
- Cellulitis
- Abscesses
- Necrotizing fasciitis
List the vascular causes of a sore leg?
- Venous occlusion: DVT, superficial vein thrombosis, venous insufficiency
- Acute ischaemia: cardiac thromboembolism, peripheral arterial disease, massive DVT
- Lymphoedema
List 5 causes of systemic oedema leading to bilateral leg swelling?
- Heart failure
- Cirrhosis
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Malnutrition
- Immobility
Describe deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
- Thrombosis in deep venous system
- Most commonly of leg
What is the origin of the popliteal vein?
Junction of the anterior tibial vein & posterior tibial vein
What do the superficial femoral vein & deep femoral vein join to form?
Common femoral vein
What does the common femoral vein become as it passes upwards above the groin?
External iliac vein
What is the % per-person lifetime incidence of vein thromboembolism?
~5%
Describe the 3 risk factors for DVT’s?
- VESSEL WALL: increased age, varicose veins, surgery
- BLOOD FLOW: obesity, pregnancy, immobilisation, IV catheters, external vein compression
- COMPOSITION OF BLOOD: thrombophilias, inflammatory conditions, oestrogen hormones
What is the likelihood of developing a vein thromboembolism in the 1st 6 weeks after surgery?
70x more likely
What 3 things help us confirm/exclude the diagnosis of DVT?
- CLINICAL DECISION RULE: determine likelihood
- BLOOD TESTS: fibrin D-dimer
- IMAGE VENOUS SYSTEM OF LEG: compression ultrasound, venography
What is a D-dimer?
Test to measure the amount of dissolved thrombus (fibrinogen degradation products)
What is the scoring system called to measure how likely a person is of developing a DVT in A&E?
Well’s Clinical Scoring System
- DVT unlikely if <2
- DVT possible if score >2
Describe the coagulation cascade?
Fibrinogen –> Fibrin Clot –> Fibrinogen degradation product
What changes fibrinogen –> Fibrin clot in the coagulation cascade?
Thrombin
What changes the fibrin clot –> Fibrinogen degradation product’s in the coagulation cascade?
Plasmin
What is the diagnosis if the wells clinical score is <2 and the D-dimer test comes back negative?
- DVT very unlikely (<0.5%)
- Consider other diagnoses
- Issue patient information sheet
What is the diagnosis if the wells clinical score is <2 but the D-dimer test comes back positive?
Treat as DVT until confirmed or excluded by ultrasound
What is the diagnosis if the wells clinical score is >2 & the D-dimer test comes back either negative/positive?
Treat as DVT until confirmed or excluded by ultrasound
What are the 5 possible outcomes following a DVT?
- Painful swollen leg
- PE
- Recurrent vein thromboembolism
- Venous insufficiency
- Post thrombotic syndrome
At what % does compression stockings for 2 years reduce your risk of post thrombotic syndrome in DVT cases?
50%
What are the 5 possible outcomes following a PE?
- Dyspneoa, chest pain, haemoptysis
- Collapse (massive PE)
- Death (fatal PE)
- Recurrent venous thromboembolism
- Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
What is the likelihood of having a recurrent PE?
4-fold more likely
What is a paradoxical embolism?
Embolus which is carried from the venous side of circulation to the arterial side, or vice versa (RARE)
What are the 4 possible means of treatment for a DVT?
- Prevent thrombus extending or embolising
- Remove risk factors
- Pain relief
- Graduated elastic compression stockings
What are the 3 preventative treatments for a DVT?
- Heparin (LMWH)
- Warfarin
- Direct Oral Anti-coagulant (direct Xa or IIa inhibitor)
What is the target INR for people on warfarin preventatively for DVTs?
2.5
How long would you give anticoagulation medication to prevent DVTs?
3-6months
What are the 3 oral anticoagulant agents?
- Warfarin
- Xa inhibitors
- IIa inhibitors
List 3 Xa inhibitor drugs?
- Rivaroxaban
- Apixaban
- Edoxaban
Give an example of a IIa inhibitor drug?
Dabigatran
What are the 2 parenteral anticoagulant drugs?
- Indirect Xa inhibitor
2. Indirect IIa inhibitor
Give 2 examples of Indirect Xa inhibitor drugs?
- Fondaparinux
2. Danaparoid
What are 3 ways to prevent venous thromboembolisms?
- Avoid risk factors
- Risk assess at hospital admission or surgery
- Provide thrombo-prophylaxis when appropriate
- Educate patients on risks & avoidance measures (early mobilisation)
What are the 5 key questions to ask regarding pain?
- Character (crushing, sharp, throbbing, dull, tight, colic-like, pleuritic)
- Location & Radiation (to left arm or jaw, through to back)
- Duration
- Precipitating & Relieving factors
- Associated features (N&V)
List 3 musculoskeletal causes of chest pain?
- Rib fracture
- Muscular
- Chondritis
List 2 cardiac causes of chest pain?
- Angina
2. MI
List 3 lung causes of pleuritic chest pain?
- Infection
- Infarction
- Malignant
List 2 vascular causes of chest pain?
- Pulmonary embolism
2. Aortic dissection
List 2 oesophageal causes of chest pain?
- Acid reflux (GORD)
2. Hiatus hernia