Pathophysiology of Heart Failure Flashcards

1
Q

Define heart failure.

A

Syndrome that arises when the heart is unable to maintain an appropriate blood pressure without support. - P. Harris
Definition of heart failure in man - a clinical syndrome caused by an abnormality of he heart and recognised by a characteristic pattern of haemodynamic, renal, neural and hormonal responses.

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2
Q

What other organ normally fails as a result of heart failure?

A

Kidneys - they receive around 35-40% of cardiac output

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3
Q

State some causes of heart failure.

A
Arrhythmia
Valve disease
Pericardial disease 
Congenital heart disease 
Cardiomyopathy
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4
Q

What happens to the structure of the heart following myocardial infarction?

A

Part of the heart muscle will be weaker due to the formation of fibrous tissue, which leads to infarct expansion. The heart muscle will remodel and dilate in an attempt to maintain normal pumping activity.

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5
Q

What is cardiomyopathy? What are the main types?

A

Heart disease in the absence of a known cause. The muscle becomes enlarged, thickened and/or stiffened.
Dilated, Hypertrophic, Restrictive and Arrthymic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

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6
Q

State some causes of dilated cardiomyopathy.

A
Congenital causes 
Idiopathic
Infectious causes - HIV, rickettsia
Toxins/Poisons - ethanol and cocaine 
Chemotherapeutic agents, antiviral agents
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7
Q

What is restrictive cardiomyopathy? State some causes.

A

The heart is unable to relax easily so the relaxation is very slow and there is diastolic dysfunction.
Causes: infiltrative disease e.g. sarcoidosis and amyloidosis
Storage disease - haemochromatosis and haemosiderosis

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8
Q

What is the commonest cause of death in heart failure?

A

Opportunistic arrhythmia

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9
Q

What is the hormonal response to heart failure?

A

Increased sympathetic firing - increase in noradrenaline and adrenaline (because your body thinks that it is bleeding to death)
RAS system is switched on - try to retain more sodium and water
Vasoconstrictors are produced by endothelial cells (e.g. endothelin-1)

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10
Q

What drugs are given to counteract these effect?

A

ACE inhibitors - block the RAS system
Beta blockers - MOST EFFECTIVE - they block the sympathetic drive
Aldosterone receptor antagonists (aldosterone receptors are high in heart failure)

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11
Q

Other than troponin I and T, what other hormone is elevated in heart failure?

A

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide

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12
Q

State some common symptoms of heart failure.

A
Tiredness
Orthopnoea - they have to sleep propped up
Peripheral oedema 
Increased venous pressure 
Increased heart rate 
Weak pulses
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13
Q

What is a clear sign of heart failure in a chest X-ray?

A

Massively increased cardio: thoracic ratio

The widest part of the heart should be no more than 50% the width of the thorax

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14
Q

What is the system used to classify heart failure patients based on functional capacity?

A

New York Heart Association Classification (PPQ!)
1 = barely any symptoms
4 = can’t get out of chair or in bed

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15
Q

What are the different syndromes of heart failure and what symptoms are they associated with?

A

Acute heart failure - PULMONARY OEDEMA
Circulatory shock - cardiogenic shock (poor peripheral perfusion, oligouria, hypotension)
Chronic heart failure

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16
Q

What do you give immediately if someone has pulmonary oedema?

A

Diuretics - to get rid of the fluid (increase urinary output)

17
Q

State some common drugs used in heart failure.

A
ACE inhibitors 
Beta blockers
Aldosterone antagonist - spironolactone
Digoxin (for atrial fibrilation)
Devices (cardiac resynchronisation, implanted cardioverter defibrillator)