Week 3 Flashcards
what is Atherosclerosis
a disease where plaque, composed of fat, cholesterol, and other substances, builds up inside the arteries, causing them to narrow and potentially block blood flow
Aetiology of Atherosclerosis
Risk factors – non modifiable
- Familial hypercholesterolaemia
- Age and gender
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Risk factors – modifiable
- HDL cholesterol <40 mg/dL
- C-reactive Protein levels (CRP)
- High homocysteine levels
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- retention of LDL particles by macrophages within the arterial wall leads to oxidation and generation of an inflammatory milieu, relstuing in accumulation of foam cells, fatty streaks and plaque
pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis
Formation of fibrofatty leisons in the intimal lining
fatty streaks
Fibrous atheromatous plaque
Complicated lesion
- Endothelium dysfunction
- Active biologic interface between blood and tissues
- Risk factors effect
- Dysfunction due to loss of NO and microtears
- Leukocytes recruited and inflammatory process starts - Endothelium inflammation
- Entry of circulating fat and cholesterol
- Oxidisation of LDLs
- Attracts circulating monocytes (become macrophages) to restore vessel wall integrity
- Inflammatory mediators released
- Smooth muscle cells grow and enter
- Macrophages and migrating smooth muscle cells consume ox-LDLs (foam cells)
Epidemiology of atherosclerosis
- Begin in childhood with the development of fatty streaks
- The lesions of atherosclerosis advance with aging
- Dyslipidaemia includes, but is not limited to, patients with abnormal levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides
- In 2022, approximately 8.4% of Australians (2.1 million people) reported having high cholesterol, an increase from 6.8% in 2011–12
Clinical manifestations of Atherosclerosis
stroke, TIA, acute coronary syndromes, stable angina, silent ischaemia, aortic dissection, aortic aneurysms,
progression of Atherosclerosis
- Endothelial Dysfunction and Inflammatory Cell Recruitment
- Atherosclerosis begins with endothelial injury triggered by LDL-cholesterol accumulation and other risk factors. This damage leads to the activation of endothelial cells, which upregulate adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) and VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) on the image)
- These molecules recruit circulating monocytes and lymphocytes to the site of injury. On adherence, monocytes migrate into the arterial intima where they differentiate into macrophages and initiate an inflammatory cascade. The endothelial dysfunction also impairs nitric oxide (NO) production, which normally maintains vascular homeostasis and prevents excessive immune cell adhesion - Foam Cell Formation: The Inflammatory Amplification Cycle
- Inside the arterial wall, macrophages engulf oxidised LDL (oxLDL), forming foam cells which amplifies inflammation through the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Additional immune cells are recruited, sustaining a chronic inflammatory loop that promotes plaque expansion. The inflammatory environment also impairs the clearance of apoptotic foam cells (a process known as efferocytosis), leading to the formation of a necrotic core rich in cellular debris and oxLDLs - Plaque Progression and Fibrous Cap Formation
- As the inflammatory response persists, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) migrate from the medial layer of the artery to the intima, where they proliferate and produce extracellular matrix (ECM) components such as collagen and elastin. This forms the fibrous cap, which serves as a protective barrier between the necrotic core and the bloodstream. However, chronic inflammation weakens this protective layer and leads to destabilisation of plaques, making them prone to rupture - Plaque Rupture
- A thin fibrous cap (<65 μm) over a large necrotic core with high macrophage density is considered a hallmark of a vulnerable plaque. As inflammation erodes the fibrous cap, it eventually ruptures, exposing the lipid core to circulating blood. This triggers platelet activation and the coagulation cascade, leading to the formation of a luminal thrombus. Depending on the severity and location of the thrombosis, this can result in an MI, ischaemic stroke or a peripheral arterial occlusion
Vascular aging
- Major risk factor for CVD
- Involves the deterioration in arterial structure and function over time, which ultimately leads to damage of heart, brain, kidney and other organs
Key contributors of VA: - Increased arterial stiffness
- Intimal thickening
- Chronic pro-inflammatory conditions
- Endothelial dysfunction
- Increased atherogenic conditions and formation of unstable plaque
Structural and functional changes for VA
- Arteriosclerosis – stiffening of the arterial wall
Aging has been demonstrated to lead to increased arterial stiffness by affecting the factors that are key in maintaining arterial compliance
These include:
- Elastin fibres which are broken down by enzymes (e.g., matrix metalloproteinases). The elastin is progressively replaced with stiffer collagen fibres, leading to reduced compliance
- Changes to vascular smooth muscle cells with age. They shift from maintaining normal function to promoting fibrosis and calcification; they also proliferate and produce more extracellular matrix, thickening tunica media
- Increase in advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), a heterogeneous group of compounds that form when proteins, lipids or nucleic acids become non-enzymatically glycated and oxidised. They cause damage by cross-linking proteins like collagen and elastin, leading to arterial stiffening, activating pro-inflammatory and oxidative pathways, damage endothelial cells, reduce nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, and increase vascular calcification. They are endogenous (formed naturally in the body, especially in diabetics and ageing individuals) or exogenous (from diet and environment) - Atherosclerosis – plaque formation and arterial narrowing
- Affects intima layer, where lipids, immune and inflammatory cells, smooth muscle cells and connective tissue accumulate
- Plaques progressively narrow arteries, potentially leading to thrombosis and obstruction.
- Early-stage plaques are not necessarily stiff, but mature calcified plaques increase arterial stiffness
A relationship between arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis exists in that the increased arterial stiffness contributes to progression of atherosclerosis (e.g. due to hypertension/endothelial injury) which in turn increases stiffness of vessel walls as the arteries narrow and calcify.
Peipheral artery disease (PAD) what is it
a condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs and feet, often causing pain, numbness, or coldness, and can lead to serious complications if left untreated
PAD Aetiology
- Arterial occlusions are usually from a thrombus
- The initiating event is a pre-existing history of PAD
- Thrombotic occlusions can occur in an upper and lower extremities segment but most commonly affect the superficial femoral artery
PAD Epidemiology
UNKNOWN
- est affect 20% of 75yo
PAD Pathophysiology
- athlerosclerosis
- infection or inflammation
- ## acute thrombosis
Vasculitis
a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of blood vessels, which can lead to narrowing, weakening, or scarring of the vessels, potentially restricting blood flow and damaging organs or tissues
Vasculitis Aetiology
UNKNOWN
- inflammatory process
- in conjunction with other illnesses
pathogenesis of Vasculitis
- Acute or chronic inflammation of blood vessels
- Vessels vary in size, type, and location
- Vessel changes
- Presence of leukocytes
- Can be serious/fatal
- Prompt recognition and therapy
clinical manifestations of vasculitis
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Malaise
- Myalgia
- Arthralgia
large vessel vasculitis types
- Giant cells arteritis
- Takayasu arteries
- Aortitis in Cogan’s syndrome
- Aortitis in spondyloarthropathies
giant cell arteritis
- Thoracic aorta – carotid arteries
- Small extracranial branches of carotid arteries
- Older adults (50-60yo)
- Clinical manifestations – headache, visual disturbances, jaw pain, gradual
- Progress to stroke, vascular stenosis, aneurysm or dilation, dissection or rupture
Takayasu arteritis
- Epidemiology: women>men, 20-30yo
- Pathophysiology: inflammation and thickening of aorta and great arteries + lumen narrowing
- Clinical manifestations: unequal blood pressure, absent arm pulses, claudication of arm, cerebral symptoms
- MRI and angiography, blood tests
Medium vessel vasculitis
- Aetiology: unknown
- Epidemiology: children 6 months – 5yo; males
- 200-300 cases/year
- Similar response to COVID-19
- Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
- Paediatric inflammatory multisystemic syndrome
Polyarteritis Nodosa what is it
a rare disease that causes inflammation and damage to the medium-sized blood vessels in the body
Polyarteritis Nodosa Aetiology
- Idiopathic
- Hep B/C virus, leukaemia
- Allergic reaction to drugs and vaccines
Polyarteritis Nodosa Epidemiology
- Men>women
- 45-60yo
Polyarteritis Nodosa clinical manifestations
- Fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, HTN, chest pain, difficulty breathing
- Numbness tingling/loss of strength in hands and feet
- GIT – bleeding or perforation
- Heart – angina or myocardial infraction
- Kidneys – cortical infracts